Members of the UCA Debate and Forensics team are (from left) Marco Ramirez, Lauren McHenry, David Lee, Jacob Holland, Hayden McCormick, Greta Hacker, C.J. Parrish, Jayce Burney, Adam Cox, Brice Horn and Aurora King.
The University of Central Arkansas Debate and Forensics team finished the season ranked fourth overall in the International Public Debate Association (IPDA).
In addition, senior Jacob Holland, a public relations and political science double-major from Cabot, finished the season as the top varsity debater in the country out of 357 competitors. With the IPDA National Championship cancelled due to COVID-19, IPDA posted results on its website on April 3.
UCA also finished third for the IPDA scholastic award, which includes performance in every division except the professional division.
UCA Debate and Forensics excelled individually and as a team throughout the season.
The UCA team placed eighth overall with freshmen team members Sian Fox, Aurora King, Brice Horn, Hope Menendez and Nicole Vincent. In the novice division, King finished the season ranked third.
UCA placed fifth in the junior-varsity division. UCA junior-varsity debaters were among the top competitors in the division with senior Lauren McHenry and freshmen Jayce Burney and C.J. Parrish. In addition, Parrish finished the season seventh in the nation, and Burney was ranked eighth.
Varsity debaters finished the season in third place. Along with Holland, UCA’s varsity debaters included December graduate Hayden McCormick; seniors Cagney Kilgroe and Marco Ramirez; juniors Greta Hacker, David Lee and Eli Stroud; and sophomore Adam Cox.
The team is coached by Anthony McMullen, associate professor of business law and director of forensics. For more information, contact McMullen at amcmullen@uca.edu or (501) 852-0695.
