For more information, contact Kenny Hopkinson, 620-786-1153.

February 24, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by: Linda Jerke

Barton Community College hosted the State Parliamentary Debate and Kansas State Individual Events (KASIE) Championships Feb. 19 and 20. Competing in the speech and debate tournaments were 13 teams, from two- and four-year programs across the state.

“This was easily the largest KASIE in our history, and a lot of that was the increased participation of the state’s community colleges,” said Craig Brown, KASIE president and Director of Forensics at Kansas State University. “This is the second time Barton has hosted KASIE and they've done a great job each time. Barton Forensics Coach Kenny Hopkinson deserves a lot of credit for taking on the tournament in his first year. He and the other Barton representatives were wonderful hosts."

Bethel College Director of Forensics John McCabe-Juhnke added, “Competitors and coaches felt well taken care of, and it’s exciting to be a part of a state forensics organization that’s growing in numbers and quality of competition every year.”

While taking on the double duty of playing host and competing, the Barton Community College Forensics Team placed third out of seven teams in the community college division with Kansas City freshman Wes Young, taking third in Poetry Interpretation and Great Bend sophomore Stephen Lingurar placing sixth in Program of Oral Interpretation.

Hopkinson expressed his appreciation for the Barton faculty and staff, and the Great Bend community for their support in hosting such an important and large weekend of competition.

“Overall, the tournaments were highly competitive and successful at showcasing the strong talent of the Kansas Collegiate Forensics community,” he said.

Displaying their third-place KASIE community college team trophy, left to right, are Barton Forensics Team members Wes Young, Kansas City freshman; Marco Erives, Jetmore freshman; Sara Stacey, Hutchinson freshman; and Stephen Lingurar, Great Bend sophomore.