NOVA Forensics Team Wins at Morgan State

NOVA Forensics Team won multiple awards at a recent debate tournament.

The NOVA Forensics Team kept its successful season going with another impressive showing at a big speech and debate tournament over the weekend of November 9 and 10 when team members traveled to the 17th Annual Morgan State University Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland. After two days of intense competition students from both, the Alexandria and Loudon campuses emerged victorious in team debate and individual events focused on informative public speaking and dramatic literature performance.

The competition at this tournament was formidable. Some of the other schools in attendance included Randolph-­‐Macon College, Towson University, Wilkes University, Bloomsburg University, Lafayette College, Alderson-­‐Broaddus College, Malone University and Lord Fairfax Community College. Though some may view these schools as more seasoned when it comes to intercollegiate speech and debate competition, our students rose to the occasion and brought home numerous awards.

Representing NOVA at the tournament were Eric Novelli (debate, impromptu speaking and extemporaneous speaking), Sancho Jacinto (debate, impromptu speaking and extemporaneous speaking), Tuscany Justice (debate and extemporaneous speaking), Nontobeka Masilela (debate and persuasive speaking), Mursal Ali Oglu (informative speaking), Erblin Nushi (single dramatic interpretation), Marissa Becker (debate and impromptu speaking), Iman Ismail (debate and extemporaneous speaking), Kylie Gambe (debate and impromptu speaking) and Ibrahim Saad (debate and impromptu speaking). 

In individual events, Ali Oglu took third place in Informative Speaking with his insightful and educational speech on the advantages and disadvantages of near-­‐field communication technology (i.e. Google Wallet). Nushi, who was competing at his first tournament of the year, wowed the judges with his dramatic performance of multiple characters from Lisa Nanni­Messegee’s play “Freeborn Lehman’s Last Day on Earth.” Congratulations to both of these students for doing such a great job.

In debate, the two-­‐person parliamentary debate team consisting of Novelli and Jacinto won third place overall with a final record of four impressive wins and only one loss. Additionally impressive was the fact that Novelli was recognized as the fourth best debate speaker at the entire tournament.

All the students represented NOVA well and should be congratulated for their hard work and participation. Likewise, a special thank you should be extended to the College-­‐wide Office of Student Activities, as well as Jackie Schillig (Alexandria), Terry Matlaga (Loudon) and Nathan Carter (Alexandria) who served as coaches for the students and competition judges throughout the duration of the tournament.

For more information about the NOVA Forensics Team please contact Dr. Nathan Carter, 703-845-­6573, nacarter@nvcc.edu. His office is located in the Bisdorff Building (AA‐262) on the Alexandria Campus.