UIndy Speech and Debate Team Awarded at Indiana Forensics Association’s State Championship Tournament
The University of Indianapolis Forensics Speech and Debate team was recognized and awarded at this year’s Indiana Forensics Association’s (IFA) State Championship tournament.
The Speech and Debate team works to improve public speaking, research, and debate skills while competing. At the IFA State Championship, the team was named State Champions in debate sweepstakes and placed second overall in speech sweepstakes.
Many students on the team were also awarded for their speaking abilities, including Jesutofunmi Oyeleke ’26, who was named State Champion in impromptu and extemporaneous speaking. Additionally, head coach Alexandra Nickerson was named IFA Coach of the Year.
Oyeleke is happy with how his career in UIndy speech and debate has ended and grateful for the support he received throughout his four years on the team.
“It’s almost like a fairytale to end my four years on the team with two State Championships,” said Oyeleke. “I am super grateful to God, my family, the University, and the speech team for the amazing support every step of the way!”
Nickerson is also grateful for her team and the opportunity to pass her skills on to them.
“To be voted Coach of the Year by the community of mentors that I’ve learned so much from is an immense honor,” said Nickerson. “As an alumna of the team, it is a privilege to work with our award-winning students and to pass along the confidence, eloquence, and advocacy skills my coaches instilled in me. I am unbelievably proud of our students for not only these results, but for building a skillset that will serve them well for the rest of their lives.”
Dr. Stephanie Wideman, interim director of the Speech and Debate team and chair of the Department of Communication, is proud that the team is continuing its legacy of success.
“The UIndy Speech and Debate Team has a long history of excellence,” said Dr. Wideman. “We are the first team to win a national championship of any sort at the university! Our university’s first national championship was in the nineties under Professor Emeritus Audrey Cunningham. Our results in the IFA State Championship show we continue to deliver excellence to the university community and beyond. We are an experiential endeavor that focuses on students applying what they learn in their classrooms to the competitive world. I am so proud to see our students continue our mantra of being ‘Good people, speaking well.’”
All students awarded at the IFA State Championship are listed below:
Celebrity Eulogy:
- 3rd Place: Adejimi Alademerin
Interviewing:
- 4th Place: Noah Maple
Novice Dramatic Interpretation:
- 4th Place: Grace Ganser
Novice Duo Interpretation:
- 2nd Place: Faith Olowofela & Katelynn Jones
Novice Impromptu Speaking:
- 4th Place: Sel Collazo-Guevara
Novice Informative Speaking:
- 2nd Place: Katelynn Jones
Novice IPDA Co-Champions:
- Katelynn Jones
- Faith Olowofela
Novice Persuasive Speaking:
- 2nd Place: Faith Olowofela
Novice Prose Interpretation:
- 4th Place: Grace Ganser
- 5th Place: Katelynn Jones
Varsity Communication Analysis:
- 4th Place: Ian Brooks
Varsity Dramatic Interpretation:
- 3rd Place: Ian Brooks
Varsity Duo Interpretation:
- 5th Place: Ian Brooks & Jordan Weddle
- 6th Place: Adejimi Alademerin & Ian Brooks
Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking:
- 1st Place: Jesutofunmi Oyeleke
- 4th Place: Eli Bridges
- 6th Place: Noah Maple
Varsity Impromptu Speaking:
- 1st Place: Jesutofunmi Oyeleke
- 3rd Place: Jordan Weddle
- 5th Place: Eli Bridges
Varsity Informative Speaking:
- 3rd Place: Adejimi Alademerin
- 5th Place: Jordan Weddle
- 6th Place: Jesutofunmi Oyeleke
Varsity IPDA Finalist:
- Eli Bridges
Varsity Persuasive Speaking:
- 3rd Place: Adejimi Alademerin
- 4th Place: Jordan Weddle
Varsity Poetry Interpretation:
- 5th Place: Ian Brooks
Varsity Program Oral Interpretation:
- 3rd Place: Jordan Weddle
- 4th Place: Ian Brooks
Varsity Prose Interpretation:
- 3rd Place: Eli Bridges
- 5th Place: Noah Maple
