Feb. 15, 2024
Ferris State Debate Team Builds on Participation, Experience and Success as Program’s Comeback Continues
A collaborative effort from the Ferris State University campus supported unique learning opportunities as the Speech and Debate team hosted a tournament for Michigan Intercollegiate Speech League members.
Ferris’ presenters took third place in the Team Sweepstakes, with Deion Vo of Cadillac winning the lone first place award in Extemporaneous Speaking. Speech and Debate Team vice president Seth Brott of Howard City notched a second-place award in Impromptu Sales Speaking and a third place in Impromptu Speaking.
Brott and Vo were among participants last year as the team was reestablished. Brott said the competition is a great way to support his studies in Information Security and Intelligence.
“We are part of an excellent program,” Brott said. “We have grown from around eight members at our formation to 14 now. Speech and Debate can accommodate so many personality types, from those wanting to offer prepared speeches to others learning two to thirty minutes before their talk, what their subject will be. I am confident in my ability to speak on several topics, thanks to this team.”
Brott credits Adjunct Instructor of Communication Aimee Miller’s advising and the team chemistry in bringing new participants along.
“Our novices, or any participant who has competed in fewer than six tournaments did well in the competition here,” Brott said. “An early highlight for the Spring semester’s schedule is the MISL Novice State Championship competition, which will be held at Northwood University in mid-February. Our league includes the Eastern Michigan University team, which is one of the national leaders.”
Miller said competition judges included more than a dozen faculty and administrators, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Bobby Fleischman and Dean of the College of Arts, Sciences and Education Randy Cagle.
“Our judges were amazing people who volunteered their time in what was a very long day,” Miller said. “Another special thank you goes out to Luke Hedman in Product Design Engineering Technology, who worked for hours prototyping and developing the trophies that were awarded at this tournament. They were stunning and the students were pleased to receive them.”
Chris Rowland of Manistee was Top Novice in Extemporaneous Speaking, taking third place among all participants and added a fifth place in Impromptu Sales Speaking. Rowland said as a Pre-Med student, he had considered joining Speech and Debate as soon as he arrived at Ferris.
“I am part of the Honors Program and Ms. Miller made a presentation for us, along with team member Jonathen Hart,” Rowland said. “I was impressed by what they had to say about their first year and joined early in the Fall semester.”
Rowland said students from a variety of study areas come together in Speech and Debate with similar goals.
“Each of us is orating on a concept fluently enough, we hope to engage an audience and possibly get them to agree with us,” Rowland said. “As I go forward in Pre-Med studies, I will be called on to speak for minutes, and as much as a half-hour on a particular subject. I feel that participating will be a great foundation for my learning.”
Other Ferris Speech and Debate Team members placing at the event held in the Starr Building included:
- Abigail Trowbridge of Luther, Michigan, winning Top Novice with a second-place result in Poetry Speaking,
- Jonathen Hart of Burton, who finished in fourth place in Dramatic Interpretation,
- Adam Savage of Coconut Creek, Florida, taking a fifth place in Extemporaneous Speaking and
- Morgan Keller of Middleville, whose Impromptu Speaking presentation earned sixth place.