BYU-Idaho forensics receives honors

CERRITOS, Calif.–BYU-Idaho forensic students received gold, silver, and bronze honors after competing against 24 other colleges  in California at the Cerritos College Invitational February 14 through 16.  

    Nine students from the forensics team participated in platform, limited preparation and interpretation events at the tournament. Forensics teacher Lori Embree said, “It was a great tournament, and the students did a good job.”

    BYU-Idaho students were successful in Parliamentary Debate. Monica and Jason Hooten received a gold, and Leah Anderson and Sarah Hope received a bronze. Mike Andrewsen and Mike Neuenschwander received a silver medal in the novice division of the competition. Students also excelled in speaking events.

Jason Hooten was a finalist in Impromptu and Extemporaneous, and Andrewsen and Neuenschwander advanced to the finals in Duo. Sarah Hope received second place with her Program Oral Interpretation.

    “I appreciate the work ethic these students have. They really go the extra mile to represent BYU-Idaho,” Embree said. “People from other universities sometimes think that we are a ‘peculiar people,’ and the team does a good job of being examples of what being Christlike really is.”
  

 Jill Davis, a freshman from Las Vegas, said that the best part of being on the Forensics team is the “family sense of the class.” Davis said, “Since we are taken out of the school atmosphere, we were able to get to work like a family.”
  

 Although this year’s team was relatively new, Embree said, “We learned a lot together.” The students worked hard throughout the semester, and Embree hopes they all return next fall.