Midland University Speech & Debate Team Shines as Part of Busy Month for MidlandUArts
March was a busy month for Midland University Arts students as various competitions and tours took place for the Speech & Debate squad as well as vocal music and band.
Coach Adam Knowlton and his Speech & Debate squad competed at the National Speech & Debate Championships in Glendale, Arizona, coming away with several top finishes while competing against the top universities in the nation.
Eddie Schweikert led the Warriors with a pair of top three finishes. He placed third in Broadcast Journalism while teaming with Kari Van Nostrand to finish as the runner-up in DUO. Schweikert also took 12th in Communication Analysis and was 31st in Interpretation. Van Nostrand turned in a pair of top individual performances as well, finishing fourth in After Dinner Speaking and 12th in Broadcast Journalism.
Mika Dooley placed 11th in both Prose Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation. Dooley also finished 13th in After Dinner Speaking and 15th in Dramatic Interpretation while taking 36th in Impromptu. Dooley and Sarah Murray teamed up to finish fifth in DUO. Murray earned a runner-up finish individually in After Dinner Speaking along with finishing 14th in Dramatic Interpretation.
Kierra Gregg also gained a runner-up finish in Broadcast Journalism.
Cici Jarvis was 20th in Program Oral Interpretation and 24th in Prose Interpretation and Sydnee Wenninghoff was 10th in Poetry Interpretation.
Midland finished third as a team in Team Sweeps while also placing 13th in Combined Sweeps.
Five students traveled with Dr. Patrick Fortney, Director of Instrumental Music, to attend the Intercollegiate Honor Band in Lincoln, Nebraska, where they had the opportunity to take part in workshops, lectures, and perform in the Intercollegiate Band Concert. Students attending were Sarah Beach (first clarinet), Liz Bulke (third clarinet), Cole Burton (bass trombone), Hunter Jones (third trumpet), and Sarah Murray (first flute/piccolo).
The Midland University, under the direction of Joel Johnston, ventured out for its annual Choir Tour to Estes Park, Colorado. The choir performed at several schools and churches to showcase their talents on the trip and performed in the chapel at Estes Park.
Midland’s newest vocal music ensemble, BlueNotes, attended the Vocal Jazz Festival at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa. The group participated in performances, clinics, and a vocal jazz singing masterclass and had the opportunity to work with several renowned vocal jazz clinicians.
