The VSU Debate and Speech team attended the 2015 annual Georgia Parliamentary Debate Association State Championship on February 13-15, 2015 at Piedmont College. VSU finished second in the varsity debate division and first in the novice division.

For the first time ever in VSU’s debate history, all five (5) of the debate teams advanced into elimination. This was a huge accomplishment by the Debate team as they were up against the state’s best debaters from nine schools.  The VSU varsity team of Allante Fairley and Hannah Tabrizi made it to the championship debate round before losing to state champ Mercer. This was especially noteworthy since, both students are juniors and will be back next year for the Blazers. The varsity team of Essence Oliver and Ashilee Thomas advanced to the quarter finals while the varsity team of Mercy Dahn and Kyle Denslow were octa-finalists.  In novice team debate, Lexi Outlaw and Ben Carter were semi-finalists, while our novice swing team of Darian Hector (VSU) and Julio Hernandez (University of North Ga.) won the novice division.

The speaker awards highlighting individual success were also amazing as all nine (9) VSU Debate team members were recognized with success. In the varsity ranks, Allante Fairley placed 4th, Kyle Denslow finished with 7th place honors, and Hannah Tabrizi placed 10th. Additionally, Ashiless Thomas, Essence Oliver, and Mercy Dahn were recognized with speaking distinction. In novice speaker awards, Darian Hector claimed third place honors while Ben Carter and Lexi Outlaw received speaker distinction.

The VSU Speech and Debate Team will travel on March 4 to contend with 75 schools and the nation’s best at the Pi Kappa Delta National Debate Championships.