JACKSON, Tenn. — April 9, 2021 — A national speech and debate tournament for home school students will be held on Union University’s campus May 23-29, 2021. This event was originally scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This is the second time Stoa, a national junior high and high school speech and debate league for privately educated Christian home-schooling families, has hosted the National Invitational Tournament of Champions on Union’s campus. NITOC was also hosted at Union in 2017 and is held in a different location each year.
“Union is once again thrilled to be hosting the National Invitational Tournament of Champions,” said Dan Griffin, Union’s vice president for enrollment management. “This talented group of young people from all over the country will display their speech and debate skills on our campus this summer.”
The tournament is one of the largest high school forensics national championships in the country, including public and private schools, according to Stoa. Patricia Shaw, Stoa board member, said she was impressed with Union’s staff and campus during NITOC 2017.
“What a joy it is to return to Union — every interaction has proved to be one that exemplifies Union’s commitment to excellence and care toward the body of Christ,” Shaw said.
Griffin said about 1,000 judges from the Union and Jackson community will be needed for the competition.
“One of the amazing privileges of hosting the tournament is our ability to participate through providing community judges,” Griffin said. “You do not have to have previous experience as they provide all the training, and you will get to witness some of the most talented speech and debate students compete for thousands of dollars’ worth of scholarships.”
More information on becoming a judge is available on Union’s website: www.uu.edu/homeschool/debate/.