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Bobby Thomas '11 |
Students in Randolph-Macon College’s Franklin Debating Society participated in a tournament at Morgan State University in Baltimore October 29-30, 2010. Overall, R-MC finished in second place.
In parliamentary debate, Bobby Thomas ’11 and Kathleen Bundy ’14 won first place with an undefeated 5-0 record. Jessee Perry ’11 and Crystal Thomas ’13 were third. Bobby Thomas was the top debater in the competition with Bundy second and Crystal Thomas sixth. In the Lincoln-Douglas debate, Ethan Franz ’12 finished in fourth place.
In the limited preparation events, Bobby Thomas was third in extemporaneous speaking and Crystal Thomas was sixth, while Franz placed sixth in impromptu speaking.
In the prepared oratory events, R-MC students won numerous awards. Crystal Thomas was second in informative speaking; Michelle Nieporte ’13 was fourth; Jessee Perry was fifth and Allison Tames ’13 placed sixth. Perry also placed fourth in persuasive speaking. Robert Thomas was fourth in humorous speaking, Alex Burgess ’14 was fifth, and Crystal Thomas was second in communication analysis.
In the interpretive events, Bobby Thomas was second in poetry reading; Franz placed fifth, and Burgess placed sixth; in dramatic duo, Bobby Thomas and Perry were second and Nieporte and Charlotte Cathey ’12 were fourth.
Those who compete in five events are entered in the “pentathlon.” Bobby Thomas was third in pentathlon and Crystal Thomas finished in fifth place.
The Franklin Debating Society team is coached by Ted Sheckels, the A.G. Ingram Professor in English. Sheckels is a communication studies and English professor and the director of speaking for the Higgins Academic Center. John Mingus, a communication studies professor at R-MC, assists Sheckels in coaching the Debating Society.
The team’s next competition will take place November 19-20 at Ursinus College outside Philadelphia.