During the 2024-25 academic year, Park University’s Speech and Debate team participated in a series of competitive events that challenged and inspired its members. Sophomore Zachary Knowles, who specializes in limited preparation activities and After Dinner Speaking, recently competed in a regional Speech and Debate conference. While he did not place in any of his events, Knowles stays passionate about his craft.

Knowles, reflecting on one of his After Dinner Speaking performances last year, says he utilized the event to explore escapism through the lens of the outlandish reality TV show Mountain Monsters. “If you’re not willing to laugh at yourself and you’re not willing to laugh out loud, what’s the point of laughing?” he said, reflecting on his love for self-deprecating humor.

Ashlee Dureka, sophomore, did not attend the conference in person, however, she participated in an asynchronous tournament with a powerful interpretation piece. Dureka’s poetry performance embodied many personas through a series of phone calls, presenting a narrative centered around unhealthy family dynamics and their impact on personal identity. “I love impromptu,” Dureka said. Reminiscing the first impromptu performance she had in which she says she was stunned with nervousness even though it was a practice run. Afterwards, Dureka said, “This is the beast that I want to conquer. And so, I’ve just been trying to learn how to be better at impromptu because I think it’s beneficial to think on your feet.”

As the semester has ended, Park University’s Speech and Debate team continues to grow through expression, experience, and a passion for communication and performance.