University of Texas at Austin Speech Team Wins National Title at NFA National Tournament

April 27, 2007

AUSTIN, Texas—The University of Texas at Austin Speech Team won a national title at the National Forensic Association (NFA) national tournament.

Senior Jill Collum was recognized as The University of Texas at Austin's 26th National Champion, winning the Extemporaneous Speaking category.

The team of four undergraduate students placed first in the team standings for Division II. The team also placed sixth in the Open Division.

Eleven entries advanced to the national quarter-final rounds (top 24 nationally) with all four team members qualifying for individual awards as follows:

McCombs School of Business:

Jill Collum

• 6th Overall Speaker (Individual Sweepstakes)
• National Champion - Extemporaneous Speaking
• National Finalist - Rhetorical Criticism (6th)
• National Semi-Finalist - Informative Speaking
• National Quarter-Finalist - Impromptu Speaking
• National Quarter-Finalist - After Dinner Speaking
• National Quarter-Finalist - Persuasive Speaking

Ashley Hatcher

• National Quarter-Finalist - Extemporaneous Speaking
• National Quarter-Finalist - Impromptu Speaking
• National Quarter-Finalist - Informative Speaking

College of Communication:

Eric Cullather

• National Semi-Finalist - Poetry

Shivali Goudar

• National Semi-Finalist - Rhetorical Criticism

The tournament, sponsored by the National Forensic Association, was hosted at Berry College in Mount Berry, Ga., Aug. 19-23.

Sponsored by the University of Texas at Austin College of Communication, and housed in the Department of Communication Studies, the Individual Events speech team has won 26 individual national titles since it was established 19 years ago. For more information, visit UT Forensics Portal.

For more information contact: Martin "Randy" Cox, 512-471-1957; Erin Geisler, College of Communication, 512-475-8071.