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

March 22, 2005

How do you celebrate your university receiving its charter to Pi Kappa Delta? If you are members of the Kansas Wesleyan University Debate and Forensics Squad, you win the national tournament.

More than 400 competitors from 72 colleges and universities throughout the nation performed at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament and Convention at Webster University in St. Louis this past weekend. The 92-year-old forensic organization, hosted the debate and speech tournament featuring more than 2,000 speeches, debates, and literary performances.

While at the tournament, not only did Kansas Wesleyan receive its charter as one of the newer members of Pi Kappa Delta, but the first-year KWU squad went on to post an amazing record.

Rodney Wren, Moundridge, and Rachel Cross, Independence, Missouri, were crowned national champions in the Novice Parliamentary Debate competition. The duo also received another national championship in Debate Speaking when their combined speaker ratings were better than those of their competition.

Kansas Wesleyan faired well in the speaking and literary events as well.

Wren was the national champion runner-up in Extemporaneous Speaking, placed eighth in the nation in Persuasive Speaking and 26th in Poetry Interpretation.

Cross also placed fourth in the nation in Impromptu Speaking and sixth in the nation in Extemporaneous Speaking

Eric Arganbright, Kansas City, Kansas, missed breaking in Lincoln Douglas Debate by a few quality points.

The three Coyote debaters combined to place 19th out of 48 institutions in the overall Debate Sweepstakes competition.

Pi Kappa Delta sponsored the first national forensic tournament in America. It is the model organization for the National Forensic League for high school students.

“The Kansas Wesleyan Debate and Forensics squad is proud to be a member of Pi Kappa Delta and is proud of our students’ performances both in competition and as representatives of Kansas Wesleyan University,” said Gary Harmon, KWU Director of Forensics.