TENNESSEE SPEECH & DEBATE SOCIETY
Established in 1836 -- Promoting public discourse for all -- Four-time National Champions
HISTORY AND SUCCESS
Our Story
The TSDS has a proud history and tradition of academic excellence.Â
Below is a display of the trophies the team won at the 2013-2014 IPDA National Championship Tournament, in which the team placed 1st overall in the nation.
A RICH TRADITION
The Literary Society Era
The Tennessee Speech and Debate Society traces its origins back to the 1800's.
Speech and Debate at UT has had several incarnations.Â
The first such organization dedicated to public discourse was the Chi Delta Literary Society, founded in 1836.
The next University of Tennessee student organization dedicated towards further public discourse on campus was the Barbra Blount Literary Society, founded in 1893. This group was special in that it empowered young women to become advocates for not only for themselves, but for those around them.
The Intercollegiate Debate Era
1960's-1980's
In this era of UT debate, the team had an enormous amount of university support. The team had two paid coaches during this era, Dr. James Russell and Norma Cook. These two sacrificed a tremendous amount to prepare, train, and guide the students on their respective teams. Their service to the organization can still be recognized across the world of intercollegiate debate. The team also had a house on campus to use for team meetings, practices, and social events.
Spirit of the Volunteer Era
The most recent incarnation of UT's competitive debate team is the Tennessee Speech and Debate Society.
This group was founded by a group of driven and motivated undergraduates who had a passion for speech and debate. The modern team has no coach, no university funding, no debate house or dedicated space, no scholarships, and very little institutional support. This is not without a great deal of effort in pursuing these privileges over the years.
Despite competing against teams with access to these resources, the TSDS consistently outperforms the competition.
SUCCESSES
IPDA Nationals Awards
The following are the awards the team has won at IPDA Nationals since its inception, starting with the most recent. For perspective, each national championship tournament hosts as many as 500 competitors in each division and 70 universities total participating.
IPDA 2016-2017 Varsity Semi-Finalist Stephen Boyette
IPDA 2016-2017 Junior Varsity Semi-Finalist Mickayla Stogsdill
IPDA 2016-2017 Junior Varsity Quarter-Finalist Randi Thompson
IPDA 2016-2017 Varsity Double Octa-Finalist Denizhan Pak
IPDA 2016-2017 Novice Octa-Finalist Symantha Gregorash
IPDA 2016-2017 Novice Octa-Finalist Michael Chambliss
IPDA 2016-2017 6th Junior Varsity Speaker Mickayla Stogsdill
IPDA 2016-2017 10th Novice Speaker Symantha Gregorash
IPDA 2015-2016 Novice National Champion Mickayla Stogsdill
IPDA 2014-2015 Varsity National Champion Spencer Hinton
IPDA 2014-2015 Professional Finalist Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2014-2015 Novice Octa-Finalist Stephen Boyette
IPDA 2014-2015 Novice Octa-Finalist Jonathan Lane
IPDA 2014-2015 2nd Professional Speaker Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2014-2015 5th Varsity Speaker Spencer Hinton
IPDA 2014-2015 10th Novice Speaker Denizhan Pak
IPDA 2013-2014 Varsity National Champion David Monghi
IPDA 2013-2014 Varsity Semi-Finalist Nichole Indelicato
IPDA 2013-2014 Novice Finalist Emalie McMahon
IPDA 2013-2014 Novice Semi-Finalist Rachel Guffy
IPDA 2013-2014 Novice Octa-Finalist Patrick Hanlon
IPDA 2013-2014 Novice Octa-Finalist Suzanne Lamb
IPDA 2013-2014 Novice Double Octa-Finalist Sam Ruwe
IPDA 2013-2014 Professional Quarter-Finalist Tom Overton
TIPDA 2013-2014 Octa-Finalists Abel Taherkeli & Sam Ruwe
IPDA 2013-2014 7th Professional Speaker Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2013-2014 1st Overall Tournament Sweepstakes UT-Knoxville
IPDA 2013-2014 1st Founder's Award UT-Knoxville
IPDA 2013-2014 1st Scholastic Award UT-Knoxville
IPDA 2012-2013 Professional Semi-Finalist Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2012-2013 Novice Double Octa Finalist Spencer Hinton
IPDA 2012-2013 Novice Double Octa-Finalist Brandon Carpenter
IPDA 2012-2013 Novice Double Octa-Finalist Bobby Patton
IPDA 2012-2013 Novice Double Octa-Finalist Nichole Indelicato
IPDA 2012-2013 5th Professional Speaker Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2011-2012 Varsity Finalist Nathan Johnston
IPDA 2011-2012 Varsity Double Octa-Finalist Jordan Smith
IPDA 2011-2012 Novice Double Octa-Finalist Matt Smith
IPDA 2011-2012 Double Octa-Finalist Jacob Clabo
IPDA National Season Long Awards
IPDA 2016-2017 1st Junior Varsity Speaker Mickayla Stogsdill
IPDA 2016-2017 1st Novice Speaker Symantha Gregorash
IPDA 2016-2017 2nd Novice Symantha Gregorash
IPDA 2016-2017 2nd Junior Varsity Mickayla Stogsdill
IPDA 2016-2017 4th Varsity Speaker Stephen Boyette
IPDA 2016-2017 6th Varsity Stephen Boyette
IPDA 2016-2017 4th Founder's Award
IPDA 2016-2017 3rd Scholastic Award
IPDA 2016-2017 3rd Novice Squad
IPDA 2014-2015 6th Varsity Spencer Hinton
IPDA 2014-2015 7th Varsity Speaker Spencer Hinton
IPDA 2014-2015 3rd Novice Stephen Boyette
IPDA 2014-2015 4th Founder's Award
IPDA 2014-2015 3rd Scholastic
IPDA 2014-2015 3rd Novice Squad
IPDA 2013-2014 10th Novice Patrick Hanlon
IPDA 2013-2014 2nd Novice Squad
IPDA 2013-2014 5th Founder's Award
IPDA 2013-2014 5th Scholastic Award
IPDA 2013-2014 4th Team Squad
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Tennessee State Champions
2016-2017 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships Varsity Champion Stephen Boyette
2016-2017 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships 2nd Varsity Speaker Stephen Boyette
2016-2017 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships 1st Varsity Speaker Sam Ruwe
2016-2017 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships Novice Finalist Michael Chambliss
2016-2017 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships Varsity Semi-Finalist Mickayla Stogsdill
2015-2016 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships Christina Gore & Denizhan Pak Varsity Co-Champions
2015-2016 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships 1st Novice Speaker Mickayla Stogsdill
2015-2016 Tennessee Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Championships Novice Semi-Finalist Mickayla Stogsdill
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Regional Championships
2016-2017 Smoky Mountain Regional Varsity Champion Stephen Boyette
2016-2017 Smoky Mountain Regional 1st Varsity Speaker Stephen Boyette
2016-2017 Smoky Mountain Regional Novice Finalist Michael Chambliss
2016-2017 Smoky Mountain Regional 2nd Junior Varsity Speaker Mickayla Stogsdill
Regular Season Championships
In the 2016-2017 season, the Vols of the TSDS attended 8 regular season tournaments. Out of the 8 tournaments, we had a champion at 6 of them. We had a debater in finals at 7 of the 8. Our worst performance had multiple competitors in the top 4 of their respective divisions.
2016-2017 University of Southern Miss Junior Varsity Champion Mickayla Stogsdill
2016-2017 Bossier Parrish Community College Junior Varsity Champion Mickayla Stogsdill
2016-2017 University of Arkansas-Montecello Junior Varsity Champion Mickayla Stogsdill
2016-2017 Middle Tennessee State University Novice Champion Michael Chambliss
2015-2016 University of Southern Miss Novice Champion (undefeated) Mickayla Stogsdill
2015-2016 University of the Cumberlands Novice Champion (undefeated) Mickayla Stogsdill
2015-2016 University of the Cumberlands Junior Varsity Champion Christina Gore
2014-2015 University of Central Arkansas Novice Champion Stephen Boyette
2014-2015 University of Central Arkansas Varsity Champion Spencer Hinton
2014-2015 Louisiana State University-Shreveport Novice Champion Christina Gore
2014-2015 Bossier Parrish Community College Novice Champion Stephen Boyette
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Other Accomplishments
The TSDS had its first member ever selected for the International Public Debate Association's Governing Board as the Varsity Representative. This honor is reserved for the Varsity season-long champion or the highest ranking returning debater in the nation.Â
Congratulations to Stephen Boyette for being selected as the Varsity Representative for the 2017-2018 season!
THE HOLLY JACKSON-SULLIVAN HALL OF FAME
Named after the woman who debated for the University of Tennessee during her tenure as an undergraduate, and who has worked tirelessly to ensure that current and future students are lucky enough to have the same opportunities. Thank you Holly!
With such a rich history, the Tennessee Speech and Debate Society 2017-2018 Executive Board sees fit to pay homage to those former members who have gone above and beyond in furthering the mission of engaging in public discourse on our campus and across the nation.
NATHAN JOHNSTON
Hall of Fame Class 2017-2018
UTK Class of 2012
Nathan was one of the founding fathers of the modern Tennessee Speech and Debate Society. He studied Journalism and Political Science while at UT. Nathan served as a student coach for the team over several seasons culminating in the 2013-2014 IPDA Overall National Championships. Nathan also reached finals at Nationals two times in Varsity and the Professional divisions respectively. He also advanced to Semi-Finals in the Professional division at another IPDA national championship tournament. Nathan has since used his skills and knowledge as a debater to mentor and coach elite high school speech and debate programs in Texas and Florida.
