The Berry forensics team finished first overall in the Georgia Intercollegiate Forensics Association state championship tournament hosted by Southern Polytechnic State University. This is Berry's 13th consecutive state championship...
The Berry forensics team finished first overall in the Georgia Intercollegiate Forensics Association state championship tournament hosted by Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Ga., Feb. 17. This is Berry's 13th consecutive state championship.
Berry speakers brought home individual crowns in five of the 11 events. In addition, senior Paula Rawlins and freshman Hope Stallings won the opportunity to compete for even greater glory at the Interstate Oratory Contest, the nation's oldest and most prestigious speech tournament. By virtue of their first- and second-place finishes in persuasive speaking, Rawlins and Stallings earned the right to be Georgia's representatives at the annual competition, to be held this year in Santa Fe, N.M. Rawlins placed first with her address about declining standards for military recruits, while Stallings was second with her speech on car safety.
Senior Chris Coleman claimed a total of six awards for Berry, including a second-place finish in the pentathlon competition recognizing the tournament's top individual performer. A total of 35 awards were earned by Berry speakers.
Individual award recipients were as follows:
• Paula Rawlins was first in persuasive speaking, second in informative speaking, third in dramatic duo (with Danielle Stice) and fourth in prose. Paula, a senior English major, is the daughter of Harold and Jane Rawlins of Dacula, Ga.
• Caitlin Carroll placed first in both extemporaneous and impromptu speaking. Caitlin, a sophomore government major, is the daughter of Daniel and Robin Carroll of Marietta, Ga.
• Hope Stallings placed second in persuasive speaking and dramatic duo (with Keith Brooks). Hope, a freshman communication major, is the daughter of Stan and Angela Nix of Ringgold, Ga.
• Chris Coleman was second in both after-dinner and impromptu speaking en route to his runner-up finish in the pentathlon competition. He also placed third in poetry and prose and was fourth in persuasive speaking. Chris, a senior prebusiness-finance major, is the son of John and Shea Coleman of Jupiter, Fla.
• Radhika Dhir placed first in dramatic interpretation and second in prose. Radhika, a junior prebusiness-accounting major, is the daughter of Dr. Krishna and Shailaja Dhir of Mount Berry, Ga.
• Christi McEntyre was second in poetry and rhetorical criticism. Christi, a junior English major, is the daughter of Patricia McEntyre of Marietta, Ga.
• Danielle Stice was third in rhetorical criticism, informative speaking and dramatic duo (with Paula Rawlins). Danielle, a junior international studies major, is the daughter of Dr. Steven and Tracey Stice of Athens, Ga.
• Ross McDuffie was first in dramatic duo (with Keith Brooks) and fourth in rhetorical criticism. Ross, a senior communication major, is the son of Daniel and Ann McDuffie of Midland, Ga.
• Nicole Locklear placed second in extemporaneous speaking and third in impromptu speaking. Nicole, a freshman, is the daughter of Franklin and Christine Locklear of Austell, Ga.
• Adam Houck was third in extemporaneous speaking. Adam, a sophomore government major, is the son of Leslie K. Houck of Winter Park, Fla.
• Keith Brooks was first (with Ross McDuffie) and second (with Hope Stallings) in dramatic duo to go along with a second-place finish in dramatic interpretation. Keith, a junior theatre major, is the son of Wayne and Glenda Brooks of Canton, Ga.
• Laura Lieberman was third in program oral interpretation and fourth in after-dinner speaking. Laura, a sophomore, is the daughter of Carl and Nancy Lieberman of Lilburn, Ga.
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Laura Craft placed fourth in informative speaking and fifth in poetry. Laura, a senior communication major, is the daughter of Robert and Deborah Craft of Moultrie, Ga.
• Amanda Dean was second in program oral interpretation. Amanda, a sophomore communication major, is the daughter of John and Yevone Dean of Acworth, Ga.
• Kristen Flerl placed third in after-dinner speaking. Kristen, a sophomore communication major, is the daughter of Michael and Sherry Flerl of Lawrenceville, Ga.