Mount Holly native, UAM debate team bring home awards

MONTICELLO — The debate and forensics team at the University of Arkansas at Monticello placed second in the Arkansas sweepstakes competition and third in the Southern Region debate sweepstakes at the Southern Forensics Championship Tournament hosted over the weekend by Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.

The tournament included competitors from 21 colleges and universities from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas and Tennessee. Students competed for both regional and individual state awards.

In individual competition, Hunter Cook of Sheridan, Dylan Hargis and Kyle Hargis of Warren, Grace Nash of Mount Holly and Abby Rounsaville of Mabelvale received awards. Kyle Hargis, a communication major, won multiple individual honors, including Southern Regional varsity speaker champion, Arkansas state varsity speaker champion, Arkansas state editorial impromptu champion, Arkansas state impromptu champion and sixth place Southern Regional impromptu speaker.

Dylan Hargis, an agriculture major, reached the round of 16 in novice debate while Hunter Cook, a criminal justice major, reached the round of 16 in junior varsity debate.

Grace Nash, an English and modern languages major, was the Arkansas state junior varsity speaker champion, fourth place Southern Regional junior varsity speaker and a quarterfinalist in junior varsity debate. Abby Rounsaville, an education major, was the Arkansas state junior varsity debate champion and a Southern Regional semifinalist.

Chris Brown, UAM’s assistant director of debate and forensics, was named the Arkansas Forensics Coach of the Year.

“I am so proud of this team,” said Jim Evans, director of debate and forensics. “We were competing against the best collegiate debate students in the South and not one of our students had less than a 3-3 record in debate. Combine that with a team GPA of 3.48 and I think the university can be very proud of this program.”

Also competing or participating for UAM were Samhitsi Aumagamanaia of Roswell, N.M., McKenzie McClain of Monticello, Gabriel McDorman of Sheridan, Daniel Wire of Kenner, La., Zach Young of Wilmar, Adeline Boman of Berthoud, Colo. and Keeton Orrell of Monticello.

For more information, contact Jim Evans, director of debate and forensics, at 870-460-1589.

Debate: Members of the UAM debate and forensics team display their team and individual trophies from the Southern Forensics Championship Tournament. Pictured, from left, are Hunter Cook, Kyle Hargis, Dylan Hargis, Grace Nash, Zach Young, Abby...