CORVALLIS, Ore. - Oregon State University’s Forensics (speech and debate) Team attended the Fred Scheller Invitational Forensics Tournament at Pacific University, Forest Grove, on Jan. 26-28, 2024. This was the third and final Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC) designated tournament of the 2023-2024 season.
Assistant Coach Tasha Robinson was recognized by the NFC with the Judge Educator Award, which is given out annually to a coach/judge who provides outstanding mentorship to student competitors in the region. Senior Megan Baus, an Ecological Engineering major from Salem, was third place in Open Program Oral Interpretation and third place in Open Poetry Interpretation. Senior Emerson Pearson, a Political Science major from Beaverton, was second place and fifth best speaker in Junior IPDA Debate and competed in Open Impromptu Speaking. Sophomore Joshua Giacomini, a Microbiology major from Coos Bay, was a quarterfinalist and fourth best speaker in Open IPDA Debate and competed in Junior Impromptu Speaking. For their overall performance this season, the NFC awarded the team a Silver Medal.
“It was gratifying to see Tasha recognized for all she does for this region,” said Mark Porrovecchio, director of the team. “Megan has really come into her own as a competitor in her final season. Josh and Emerson, as newer members of the team, are continuing to impress.”
The tournament featured over a dozen schools from across the NFC, including Carroll College, Helena, Mont.; Whitworth University, Spokane, Wash., Linfield University, McMinnville; and Lewis and Clark College, Portland.
Junior Rayna Voltin, a Biology major from Silverton, also attended and competed in Novice IPDA Debate and Novice Impromptu Speaking. The team was coached by Robinson, who is from Hillsboro. Robinson is a former student competitor for OSU and a current MAIS graduate student in the Speech Communication area of the School of Communication.
“It’s been four years since we attended Pacific,” continued Porrovecchio. “It was great being back on their campus, doing so well against some of the top competitors in the Northwest.”
Celebrating its 131st season, OSU Forensics is one of the oldest clubs on campus and a member of the Performing Arts Board in the School of Communication. The team is open to all students in good academic standing regardless of experience or academic background. If you are a student interested in participating, or a member of the community who would like to support the team, please contact Porrovecchio at mark.porrovecchio@oregonstate.edu.
CONTACT:
Mark Porrovecchio
205 Shepard Hall
737-8230
Photo (from left to right): Emerson Pearson, Megan Baus, Josh Giacomini, and Rayna Voltin taking a break from competition at Pacific University.