Speech Team victorious at Marshall University

Heidelberg’s Speech Team was victorious at Marshall University’s Memorial Speech Tournament on November 15. The Thundering Herd hosted 140 students and universities from six states in their 75th annual tournament. Director of Forensics Dan Higgins noted, “Heidelberg was well-represented by our entire team. We are in a period of rebuilding our program and the students have really stepped up to the challenge. I couldn’t be happier with their hard work.”

Bringing home individual honors was sophomore primary education major Rena Burris from Huron, Ohio. Rena placed 4th in Persuasive Speaking with her speech addressing the decline in reading proficiency of our nation’s youth. Placing 5th in Persuasive Speaking was novice speaker Dominick Zaffos from Conway, Missouri. Dominick, an exercise science major (business minor), spoke about “false flagging” for AI in student-submitted work at the collegiate level. Rounding out the Berg’s strong showing was Greg McMaster from Clyde, Ohio, a senior biology major (chemistry minor), with a premed concentration. Grant earned 5th place in Informative Speaking and the designation as Top Novice Informative Speaker with his presentation on Down Syndrome.