Members of the Prairie State College team named champions of the medium school division during the 32nd Novice Nationals Tournament hosted by Northern Illinois University were (front) Destin Patton-Warner and (standing, from left) Sanni Mohammed-Haruna, Allysha Nobles, and DaQuawn Bruce. (PHOTO SUPPLIED)
Chicago Heights, IL-(ENEWSPF)- The Prairie State College (PSC) speech won the team national championship in the medium school division and brought home several individual awards during the 32nd Novice Nationals tournament hosted by Northern Illinois University March 14 through 16. The tournament is limited to first-year (novice) competitors. This is the first time a PSC team attended the tournament.
Twenty-five schools from around the country participated in the tournament. Some of the big name schools in attendance included Cornell University in Ithaca N.Y., Loyola University in Chicago, University of Louisiana, University of West Florida, Eastern Michigan University, University of Indianapolis, Berry College in Mount Berry, Ga., and Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis. Only six community colleges participated.
Sanni Mohammed-Haruna of Homewood was named national champion for program oral interpretation and was a semi-finalist in impromptu speaking. Destin Patton-Warner of Riverdale was named national champion in prose interpretation and received second place for dramatic interpretation. DaQuawn Bruce of Riverdale received third place for informative speaking, fourth place for persuasive speaking, fourth place for poetry interpretation, and was a semi-finalist in impromptu speaking. Allysha Nobles of Park Forest received fifth place in dramatic interpretation.
The team is coached by PSC Professors David Naze, Ed Schwarz, and Elighie Wilson.
