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The American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament (AFA-NST) is an intercollegiate, individual events based forensics tournament held in conjunction with the first Saturday in April, beginning on the prior Friday and continuing through the subsequent Monday.[1] In comparison to National Forensic Association Nationals, another prominent college-level individual events national tournament, the AFA-NST has significantly more stringent qualification procedures and a smaller, but more exclusive field of competition.[2][3] The AFA-NST represents the culmination of the forensics season for many collegiate speech teams.[4]
The 2025 AFA-NST will take place at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte during April 4–7.[5]
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Formed in 1949, the American Forensic Association was created with the goal of teaching students to utilize the skills of argumentation and advocacy. In the first decades of its existence, the AFA was primarily focused on promoting debate competitions, with little to no interest in individual events.
As a result in the rapid rise of interest in individual events in the late 1960s, Dr. Seth Hawkins of Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Raymond Beaty of Ohio University and Dr. Jack Howe of California State University, Long Beach began to propose ideas of an organized national tournament focused on individual events. Dr. Beaty reported that his proposals were disregarded by the debate community.[2] During the 1970-71 forensics season, Dr. Hawkins made the decision that, despite the lack of support from the debate community, the increased interest in IEs (individual events) justified the establishment of a national championship tournament. This tournament was held on the campus of Ohio Northern University, 23 schools participated, and the annual IE tournament that would eventually become known as NFA Nationals was established.[6]
Realizing that the NFA's new IE national tournament could perpetuate the already existing split within the community regarding the competitive validity of IEs, the AFA began working towards a solution in 1972. Jerry Anderson, the president of the AFA at the time, began calling meetings to address measures that could be taken to incorporate IEs into the AFA's agenda. Anderson proposed a change to the AFA's constitution to allow for the inclusion of IEs; this change was ratified in 1973. Anderson, along with E.R. Tame, the Chair of the Educational Policies Committee, proposed that the AFA enact institutional changes to accommodate IEs. In 1973, the AFA voted to establish the AFA Committee on Individual Events.[7] In the three years following its establishment, the Committee worked towards developing an inceptive procedural standard for the AFA-NST. This effort was bolstered in 1976, as James Weaver assumed the presidency of the AFA. Weaver proved a staunch advocate of the NST's establishment. Within the first year of taking office, Weaver established the National Individual Events Tournament Committee, and appointed Larry Schnoor of Minnesota State University, Mankato as Chair. Shortly thereafter, Schnoor and the committee began making preparatory arrangements for the inaugural AFA-NST.[7]
In April 1978 the inaugural AFA-NST was hosted by Illinois State University. 58 schools attended the 1978 AFA-NST.[8]
- Eastern Michigan University won the team sweepstakes championship at the 1978 AFA-NST
- Meg Langford of George Mason University won the individual sweepstakes championship at the 1978 AFA-NST
- Six schools who attended the 1978 AFA-NST have never been absent from any subsequent AFA-NST through 2013:
- Bethel College (Kansas)
- Bradley University
- George Mason University
- Kansas State University
- Minnesota State University, Mankato
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire[8]
The tournament was known as the AFA-NIET (American Forensics Associational National Individual Events Tournament) prior to a name change in 2019.[9]
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List of Sweepstakes Champions
Team and individual sweepstakes awards are awarded to the best overall performing team and individual at each AFA-NST, respectively.
Team sweepstakes awards are given to the teams with the highest aggregate total of sweepstakes points earned by the team's individual competitors. At the AFA-NST, team sweepstakes points are awarded as follows:
- Preliminary rounds: .5 points for each 3rd place ballot, 1 points for each 2nd, 1.5 points for each 1st. (only the school's top 3 competitors in each event earn points for preliminary rounds)
- Out-rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, finals): 1 point for 6th place, 2 points for 5th place, 3 points for 4th place, 4 points for 3rd place, 5 points for 2nd place, 6 points for 1st place.
When tabulating individual sweepstakes, only the individual competitor's ranks and placings are used, and points awarded for preliminary ballot ranks are doubled. Otherwise, individual sweepstakes are tabulated identically to team sweepstakes.[1]
| Year | Individual Champion | Team Champion |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Meg Langford, George Mason University | Eastern Michigan University |
| 1979 | Meg Langford, George Mason University | George Mason University |
| 1980 | Kim Norris, Iowa State University | Bradley University |
| 1981 | Sean Patrick O'Rourke, Humboldt State University | Bradley University (2) |
| 1982 | Laura Gordon, Clarion University of Pennsylvania | Bradley University (3) |
| 1983 | Patrick Page, Whitman College | Bradley University (4) |
| 1984 | Patrick Page, Whitman College | Bradley University (5) |
| 1985 | Greg Dolph, Bradley University | Bradley University (6) |
| 1986 | Greg Dolph, Bradley University | Bradley University (7) |
| 1987 | Tom Doyle, Bradley University | Bradley University (8) |
| 1988 | Ken Klawitter, Bradley University | Bradley University (9) |
| 1989 | Cam Jones, Cornell University | Bradley University (10) |
| 1990 | Peter Tagg, Southern Utah University | Bradley University (11) |
| 1991 | Karon Bowers, Bradley University | Bradley University (12) |
| 1992 | Karon Bowers, Bradley University | Bradley University (13) |
| 1993 | Tim Schultz, Kansas State University | Bradley University (14) |
| 1994 | Tim Schultz, Kansas State University | University of Texas at Austin |
| 1995 | August Benassi, Bradley University | University of Texas at Austin (2) |
| 1996 | August Benassi, Bradley University | Bradley University (15) |
| 1997 | Matthew Whitley, University of Texas at Austin | Bradley University (16) |
| 1998 | Nance Riffe, George Mason University | Bradley University (17) |
| 1999 | Rajni Shankar, George Mason University | Bradley University (18) |
| 2000 | Chris McLemore, Kansas State University | Bradley University (19) |
| 2001 | Steve Zammit, Cornell University | University of Texas at Austin (3) |
| 2002 | Bonny McDonald, University of Texas at Austin | University of Texas at Austin (4) |
| 2003 | Zenobia Harris, West Texas A&M University | Western Kentucky University |
| 2004 | Courtney Anderson, George Mason University | Western Kentucky University (2) |
| 2005 | Ryan Hubbell, Arizona State University | Illinois State University |
| 2006 | Natalie Sintek, Western Kentucky University | Western Kentucky University (3) |
| 2007 | Lydia Nelson, Western Kentucky University | Western Kentucky University (4) |
| 2008 | Jessy Ohl, Kansas State University | Western Kentucky University (5) |
| 2009 | Merry Regan, University of Texas at Austin | Western Kentucky University (6) |
| 2010 | Amanda Voirol, Bradley University | Bradley University (20) |
| 2011 | Quincey Smith, George Mason University | Western Kentucky University (7) |
| 2012 | Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University | Bradley University (21) |
| 2013 | Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University | Bradley University (22) |
| 2014 | Nick Gilyard, Western Kentucky University | Western Kentucky University (8) |
| 2015 | Farrah Bara, University of Texas at Austin | Western Kentucky University (9) |
| 2016 | Farrah Bara, University of Texas at Austin | University of Texas at Austin (5) |
| 2017 | Nathan Leys, George Mason University | University of Texas at Austin (6) |
| 2018 | Andrea Ambam, Western Kentucky University | University of Texas at Austin (7) |
| 2019 | Andrea Ambam, Western Kentucky University | Western Kentucky University (10) |
| 2021 | Anna Kutbay, University of Alabama | Western Kentucky University (11) |
| 2022 | Anna Kutbay, University of Alabama | University of Texas at Austin (8) |
| 2023 | Terrence Mayfield, Illinois State University | University of Texas at Austin (9) |
| 2024 | Fernando Cereceres, University of Texas at Austin | University of Texas at Austin (10) |
Due to COVID-19, the 2020 tournament was cancelled, resulting in no sweepstakes winners.[10]
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There are 11 events that are sanctioned by the AFA and held at the AFA-NIET. All events fall into one of three categories:
- Interpretation
- Public Address
- Limited Preparation
Interpretation Events
There are five AFA-sponsored events which fall into the interpretation category. Interpretation events involve the performer selecting and cutting a script (usually from a play, book, or movie), and acting out the scenes. All AFA interpretation events require the performer to hold a 'black book' that contains their manuscript. This book can be used as the competitor sees fit, meaning it may be used as a prop, but the use of other objects as props is prohibited. All interpretation events have a 10-minute time limit.
- Poetry Interpretation
Poetry interpretation involves the performance of a selected cutting of poetry with significant literary merit. The performance may be one poem, or a combination of multiple pieces (often referred to as a 'program'). Play cuttings are prohibited from use. The focus of this performance should be on the development of language.[11]
- Prose Interpretation
Prose interpretation features the performance of a prose piece of significant literary merit. The performance may feature only one work, or it may be a program. Play cuttings and poetry pieces are prohibited from use. The focus of this performance should be on development of the narrative.[11]
- Drama Interpretation
Under the AFA rules of Drama Interpretation, the performer is to create a cutting from either stage, screen, or radio with significant literary merit. The performance may feature only one play, or it may be a program. The performer may portray multiple characters. The focus of this performance should be on the development of characterization.[11]
- Program Oral Interpretation
Program Oral Interpretation is an event that is unique to the AFA-NST and is not sanctioned by NFA nationals.[12] In POI, the performer is to create a program of selections linked by a common theme, and consisting of at least two of the different genres of forensics interpretation literature (prose, poetry, and drama), with the pieces being of significant literary merit. Each genre must be represented by a unique piece of literature; one piece may not represent multiple genres. One selection may be original. The focus of this event should be on the development of the theme through the established narrative.[11]
- Dramatic Duo
Dramatic Duo is the only AFA-sponsored event to feature two competitors in the performance. The performance may feature cuttings from any genre of literature; the cutting may be only one piece, or it may be a program. The selected cutting can be either humorous, serious, or a combination of the two. The performers are not allowed to directly look at each other or touch each other. The performers may each portray multiple characters if they so choose.
Public Address Events
There are four AFA-sponsored events that fall into the category of public address. Public address events involve the performance of an originally written speech covering a specific topic or issue. Audio and visual aids are permitted for use in all public address events. Performers are heavily encouraged to integrate multiple sources into their speech. All events in this category have a 10-minute time limit.
- Persuasive Speaking
Persuasive speaking involves the performer delivering an original speech that is intended to inspire action or change the beliefs of the audience.[11] Minimal notes are permitted, but heavily discouraged. Visual aids are permitted, but not mandatory. Judging should be based on the performer's public speaking skills and the effectiveness of the message.
- Informative Speaking
In informative speaking the performer delivers an original, factual speech that is intended to inform and educate the audience about a unique subject.[11] Minimal notes are permitted, but heavily discouraged.
- Communication Analysis
Known as 'rhetorical criticism' at NFA nationals, communication analysis is an original speech centered on the evaluation of a communication event, often referred to as the 'artifact' (speeches, movements, advertisements, etc.). The evaluation should utilize rhetorical principles and theories.[11] Manuscripts are permitted, but heavily discouraged.
- After Dinner Speaking
After dinner speaking is an original, humorous speech centered on a single theme or subject. While the speech should be mostly humorous, it should not resemble a stand-up comedy act. Judging should be based on speaking skill, speech coherence, and good taste in humor.[11] Minimal notes are permitted, but heavily discouraged.
Limited Preparation Events
There are two limited preparation events sponsored by the AFA. Limited preparation events are unique from other forensics events in that the speech is written 'on the spot' with a limited amount of time allocated to preparation. Both events are performed as speeches. Limited notes are commonly used in these events. Audio and visual aids may not be used. All limited preparation events have a 7-minute time limit.
- Extemporaneous Speaking
In extemporaneous speaking, competitors receive three topics covering a range of current events. The competitor will select one of the three topics, and is then given 30 minutes to prepare an original speech utilizing multiple sources. Due to its preparation time, extemporaneous speaking is the only AFA-sponsored event where competitors speak in a previously assigned order which is generally not flexible or subject to change.[11] Limited notes may be used.
- Impromptu Speaking
In impromptu speaking, the competitor receives a quotation to use as the topic of their speech. The competitor's 7-minute time limit starts at their reading of the quotation. The speech may be humorous, serious, or a combination of both, but should stay relevant to the quotation and the speaker's interpretation of it.[11] Limited notes are permitted.
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There are two ways that a competitor can qualify an event for the AFA-NST:
At-Large Qualification
For an event to be qualified through the at-large process, the competitor must obtain three 'legs' (placings) in the event that total out to 8 or less. (e.g. 3rd, 3rd, 2nd; 5th, 2nd, 1st; 6th, 1st, 1st; 1st, 1st, 1st) In the event that a final round contains more than six competitors (e.g. unbreakable tie), no placing beyond 6th will count as a leg under any circumstances. A leg can be acquired at any tournament in which at least 9 schools are participating.[1]
Placings will only count as a leg if the requirement for number of competitors in the event is met:
- 1st: 2-3
- 2nd: 4-5
- 3rd: 6-7
- 4th: 8+
- 5th: 17-20*
- 6th: 20+*[1]
- Due to a change in the AFA bylaws during COVID-19, a new two "leg" system took over the at large qualification progress. Now to gain an at large qual 2 "legs" are needed that add to no more than 5. This move also removed the possibility for "legs" of 5 and below. It also lessened the number of competitors needed to gain "legs" mandating competitors be finish in the top half of the event to earn a "leg". For school entries, the requirement was lowered to 7.
District Qualification
Events may also be qualified for the AFA-NST by placing in the top 10% of the field at their school's respective district qualifying tournament.
All AFA member schools are placed into a district. District placement is largely (but not entirely) based on the state that the school is located in:
- District 1: California, Nevada, Hawaii
- District 2: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska
- District 3: Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Missouri, Louisiana, Arkansas
- District 4: North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska
- District 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
- District 6: Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi, Kentucky
- District 7: Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, Staten Island, N.Y., Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
- District 8: [dis-established due to lack of schools; merged into District 7]
- District 9: Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Texas (El Paso) [1]
Note: Schools may enter a petitioning process if they wish to be placed in a different district.
The respective district committees determine when the district qualifying tournament will be, specifically, but it must take place after January 15 and before the third weekend of March. Events that have already been qualified through the at-large process are ineligible for competition at the district qualifying tournaments. A student qualifies an event for the AFA-NST when they place in the top 10% of that event, rounding up. (e.g. 20 competitors: top 2; 21 competitors: top 3) If an individual has two legs coming into the district qualifier and finishes at a placing sufficient for their third leg, then that event is qualified at-large, and everyone who placed below said individual is moved up one spot, allowing them to potentially qualify.[1]
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