CONTACT: Leslie Eikleberry, Director of Public Relations, 785-827-5541 ext 1127

March 9, 2005

Kansas Wesleyan University’s Debate and Forensics Squad brought home 10 individual awards and a sweepstakes placing from the National Novice Debate and Speech Tournament this past weekend, enhancing the squad’s already successful first season.

The Kansas Wesleyan squad competed with squads from 27 other institutions including Purdue University, San Jose State University, the United States Air Force Academy, University of California-Davis, and University of South Carolina. The only other Kansas institutions represented at the tournament were Hutchinson Community College and Washburn University. The tournament was conducted at Morehead University in Kentucky.

As a squad, Kansas Wesleyan placed fourth in Division II Sweepstakes. Individual awards include:

Megan Hagaman, Abilene, and Rod Wren, Moundridge, octafinalists in Parliamentary Debate

Hagaman, a semifinalist in Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking

Wren, fifth speaker in Parliamentary Debate and a semifinalist in Prose and Extemporaneous Speaking

Eric Arganbright, Kansas City, Kansas, fourth in Lincoln Douglas Debate and fourth speaker in Lincoln Douglas Debate

Rachael Cross, Independence, Missouri, third in Lincoln Douglas Debate

For more information about Kansas Wesleyan University's award-winning Debate and Forensics program, please contact coaches Gary Harmon at 785-827-5541 ext. 5315 or via email at gharm@kwu.edu and Barbara Marshall at 785-827-5541 ext. 5215 or via email at bmarsh@kwu.edu.