Welcome
The University of Illinois at Chicago Forensics Program is an intercollegiate speech team. We represent UIC at regional and national speech competitions (similar to the UIC basketball, track and other athletic teams).
Forensics is the study and practice of public speaking, oral interpretation and debate. Speakers and performers seek to move, persuade or inspire their audience.
While less than a decade old, the UIC Speech has been one of the most successful teams in UIC’s history ranking in the top 10 of teams in the nation; even earning the 2022 International and State Championships.
Current Leadership
Daniel Irace – Captain
Coaching Staff
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Vance Pierce
Director of Forensics
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Eric Long
Associate Director of Forensics
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Lavontae Morrow
Graduate Assistant
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Tia Collins
Coach
Past Presidents/Captains
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Daniel Irace/Faith Ragan
2025-2026
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Isabel Kapustka
2024-2025
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Lavontae Morrow
2023-2024
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Zoe Bridges
2022-2023
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Maleeha Rasheed
2021-2022
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Onyinye Udeogu
2020 – 2021
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Jacob Krol
2019 – 2020
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Michael Martinez
2016 – 2019
History
UIC Forensics History
It all started with a tweet. When Mikey Martinez was a freshman at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the winter of 2015, he was upset about them not having a platform for competitive public speaking. He took to social media, complaining “Why are we the only college in Illinois pretty much that doesn’t have a speech team?” UIC had a simple tweet in response: “well, start one,” and the UIC Speech journey began.
The spring of 2016 was a busy season of planning; President and Founder Mikey Martinez recruited Brittany Neloms and Meghna Peesapati to serve as the respective first Vice President and Treasurer of the team. The three of them fundraised, became a registered student organization, and recruited other members to help grow the UIC Speech Team’s legacy. The team’s first competition was MAFL 1-2 at Minnesota State University Mankato. Although they began with no formal coaches, Mikey, Brittany, and Meghna worked with future Vice President Sunil Dommaraju and future Treasurer Damon Horn to create a supportive peer coaching environment.
With their speeches memorized and practiced, Mikey, Brittany, Meghna, and Sunil drove themselves to their first competition. At MAFL 1, Mikey placed 4th in impromptu speaking, marking UIC’s first ever tournament final. At MAFL 2, Brittany brought home the team’s first tournament championship, winning Dramatic Interpretation. UIC’s breakout performance put the team on the map.
As the year progressed, the UIC Speech Team began to grow their network. Close relationships with Northwestern University, Bradley University, and Illinois State University allowed for the UIC students to learn and grow with their peers. The team grew, adding Jacob Krol (future President), Kris Trandai, and Nidhi Khare. This small and mighty squad handled all fundraising and operations logistics. With no formal coaching staff, the team finished their first year with five team trophies (including a 4th place finish at the esteemed ISU 74 Swing) and 59 regular season finalists.
At their first National Forensics Association tournament at the University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire, the team boasted an impressive top 22 finish, placing 4th in President’s Division II. Sunil Dommaraju finished the NFA National Tournament as a two-time novice champion (Informative and Persuasive), as well as with a quarter final in Rhetorical Criticism, making Sunil UIC’s first ever competitor to make out rounds at a national competition.
UIC’s strong inaugural performance not only garnered the attention of UIC administration, but it also attracted some of the nation’s best coaches to UIC. Under the guidance of Vance Pierce, Mikey and the executive board were counseled on how to secure funding for team support. This allowed for Hananiah Wiggins, Sami White, Richie Hartz and Kyle Deininger to formally join the team as UIC’s first ever coaches. A limited budget catapulted the UIC team to new heights. In the 2017-2018 season, the team grew to 11 members, saw 119 tournament finalists, and earned 10 regular season team sweepstakes trophies. Mikey, Sunil, Nidhi, Jacob, and Brittany led the UIC team to a 17th place finish at UIC’s first ever American Forensics Association NIET at Colorado College, with Brittany becoming the team’s first ever national finalist (6th place in Dramatic Interpretation).
The UIC Team then traveled to the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh to compete in the National Forensics Association National Tournament; they did not disappoint. The team saw 11 events break into out-rounds, including a quarterfinal in impromptu from Nidhi, a semifinal in Extemp from Mikey, and a 4th place finish for Brittany in Dramatic Interpretation. Jaws of coaches from around the country dropped when UIC was announced as the 9th best team in the nation. In just two years, a top 10 ranked speech program was born.
The story continues…
UIC Forensics Results
2016-2017
2017 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
Rhetorical Criticism
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Novice Informative Speaking
National Champion – Sunil Dommaraju
Novice Persuasive Speaking
National Champion – Sunil Dommaraju
President’s II Division Team Sweepstakes
4th Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
22nd Place
2017 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Jacob Krol
Communication Analysis
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Quarter-Finalist – Jacob Krol
Dramatic Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Brittany Neloms
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Meghna Peesapati
Impromptu Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Nidhi Khare
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Quarter-Finalist – Damon Horn
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Damon Horn
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Damon Horn
Open Team Sweepstakes
16th Place
2017-2018
2018 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Damon Horn
Octo-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Dramatic Interpretation
4th Place – Brittany Neloms
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Octo-Finalist – Ashwini Deshpande
Octo-Finalist – Jacob Krol
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Nidhi Khare
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Octo-Finalist – Meghna Peesapati
Informative Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Persuasive Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Poetry Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Brittany Neloms
Rhetorical Criticism
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Octo-Finalist – Meghna Peesapati
Novice Informative Speaking
2nd Place – Ashwini Deshpande
Novice Persuasive Speaking
4th Place – Ashwini Deshpande
President’s One Division Team Sweepstakes
2nd Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
9th Place
2018 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
Communication Analysis
Semi-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Dramatic Interpretation
6th Place – Brittany Neloms
Open Team Sweepstakes
17th Place
2018 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
4th Place – Damon Horn
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Damon Horn
2018-2019
2019 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Octo-Final – Jacob Krol
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Quarter-Finalist – Nidhi Khare
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
5th Place – Nidhi Khare
Semi-Finalist – Ashwini Deshpande
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Octo-Finalist – Jacob Krol
Octo-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Rhetorical Criticism
Octo-Finalist – Ashwini Deshpande
Octo-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Novice Prose Interpretation
4th Place – Jaron Cano
President’s One Division Team Sweepstakes
4th Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
11th Place
2019 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
Extemporaneous Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Impromptu Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Mikey Martinez
Quarter-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Sunil Dommaraju
Open Team Sweepstakes
16th Place
2019 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
Communication Analysis
Top Novice – Maleeha Rasheed
Extemporaneous Speaking
2nd Place – Jacob Krol
3rd Place – Mikey Martinez
Impromptu Speaking
4th Place – Mikey Martinez
5th Place – Jacob Krol
2019-2020
2020 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
Dramatic Interpretation
4th Place – Onyinye Udeogu
Impromptu Speaking
3rd Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Communication Analysis
4th Place – Damian Samsonowicz
2020-2021
2021 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
Extemporaneous Speaking
National Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Prose Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Duo Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Jaron Cano / Onyinye Udeogu
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges / Damian Samsonowicz
Octo-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani / Damian Samsonowicz
Rhetorical Criticism
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Damian Samsonowicz
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Octo-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Octo-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Octo-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Dramatic Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Octo-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Octo-Finalist – Damian Samsonowicz
Persuasive Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Damian Samsonowicz
Informative Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
After Dinner Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Octo-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Octo-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Open Team Sweepstakes
8th Place
2021 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Damian Samsonowicz / Jazz Jabulani
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Open Team Sweepstakes
13th Place
2021 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Communication Analysis
6th Place – Damian Samsonowicz
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Informative Speaking
2nd Place – Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
National Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Prose Interpretation
2nd Place – Onyinye Udeogu
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Poetry Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Damian Samsonowicz / Jazz Jabulani
Quarter-Finalist – Onyinye Udeogu / Jaron Cano
Interviewing
4th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Program Oral Interpretation
5th Place – Damian Samsonowicz
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Dramatic Interpretation
4th Place – Damian Samsonowicz
Quarter-Finalist – Jazz Jabulani
Non-Scholarship Programs Sweepstakes
National Champions
Open Team Sweepstakes
5th Place
2021 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
Poetry Interpretation
State Champion – Onyinye Udeogu
Dramatic Interpretation
State Champion – Damian Samsonowicz
Informative Speaking
State Champion – Zoe Bridges
2nd Place – Lavontae Morrow
3rd Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Duo Interpretation
State Champions – Onyinye Udeogu / Jaron Cano
3rd Place – Jazz Jabulani / Damian Samsonowicz
Impromptu Speaking
State Championship – Maleeha Rasheed
Extemporaneous Speaking
State Championship – Chris Rapp
Prose Interpretation
2nd Place – Onyinye Udeogu
5th Place – Zoe Bridges
After Dinner Speaking
3rd Place – Jazz Jabulani
Program Oral Interpretation
3rd Place – Damian Samsonowicz
Communication Analysis
5th Place – Damian Samsonowicz
Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
State Champion – Damian Samsonowicz
2nd Place – Onyinye Udeogu
Debate Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Individual Events Team Sweepstakes
2nd Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
2nd Place
2021-2022
2022 Interstate Oratory Association Contest (IOA)
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
2022 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Dramatic Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Octo-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Duo Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow / Darrow Richmond
Octo-Finalist – Francis MacDonald / Aniyah Clemons
Extemporaneous Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp
National Runner-Up – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Octo-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Informative Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Octo-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Persuasive Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Octo-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Poetry Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Octo-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Rhetorical Criticism
Octo-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Octo-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Individual Sweeps
14th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
President’s Division 1
4th Place
Open Division
8th Place
2022 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Communication Analysis
Semi-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Semi-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Duo Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond / AJ York
Extemporaneous Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Individual Sweeps
17th Place Maleeha Rasheed
Team Sweeps
9th Place
2022 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Semi-Finalist- Darrow Richmond
Communication Analysis
Semi-Finalist – Jaron Cano
National Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Dramatic Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
Duo Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow / Darrow Richmond
Semi-Finalist – Darrow Richmond / AJ York
Extemporaneous Speaking
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
4th Place – Chris Rapp
Impromptu Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Semi-Finalist – Jaron Cano
Interviewing
5th Place – Isabel Kapustka
4th Place – Genesis Abad
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
National Runner-Up – Huyen Nguyen
Persuasive Speaking
4th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Poetry Interpretation
Semi Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
5th Place – Aniyah Clemons
Program Oral Interpretation
5th Place – Zoe Bridges
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Jaron Cano
6th Place – Zoe Bridges
Non-Scholarship Programs
National Runner-Ups!
Overall Team Sweeps
5th Place
2022 Asynchronous Speech Championship (ASC)
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Quarter-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Dramatic Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Noor Awaidah
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Darrow Richmond / AJ York
Extemporaneous Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp
National Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
National Runner-Up – Maleeha Rasheed
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Semi-Finalist – Maleeha Rasheed
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
3rd Place – Zoe Bridges
Poetry Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
6th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Top Novice
Isabel Kapustka
Individual Sweeps
5th Place Maleeha Rasheed
Overall Team Sweeps
3rd Place
2022 International Forensics Association (IFA)
After Dinner Speaking
5th Place – Genesis Abad
International Champion – Isabel Kapustka
Communication Analysis
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
Dramatic Interpretation
5th Place – Noor Awaidah
International Champion – Darrow Richmond
Duo Interpretation
International Champion – Darrow Richmond / AJ York
Extemporaneous Speaking
6th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
International Champion – Chris Rapp
Impromptu Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
6th Place – Isabel Kapustka
3rd Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Informative Speaking
4th Place – Genesis Abad
International Runner-Up – Jaron Cano
Persuasive Speaking
6th Place – Huyen Nguyen
4th Place – Jaron Cano
International Runner-Up – Zoe Bridges
International Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Poetry Interpretation
3rd Place – Aniyah Clemons
International Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
5th Place – Zoe Bridges
International Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
4th Place – Aniyah Clemons
Individual Sweepstakes
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
International Runner-Up – Maleeha Rasheed
Overall Team Sweeps
International Champions
2022 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Communication Analysis
7th Place – Genesis Abad
6th Place – Lavontae Morrow
5th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
Dramatic Interpretation
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
4th Place – Lavontae
Duo Interpretation
State Runner-Up – Darrow Richmond / AJ York
Extemporaneous Speaking
3rd Place – Chris Rapp
State Champion – Maleeha Rasheed
Impromptu Speaking
3rd Place – Maleeha Rasheed
State Runner-Up – Chris Rapp
State Champion – Serena Ahmad
Informative Speaking
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
5th Place – Zoe Bridges
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
State Runner-Up – Maleeha Rasheed
Poetry Interpretation
8th Place – Francis MacDonald
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
6th place – Darrow Richmond
Prose Interpretation
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
State Runner-Up – Jaron Cano
Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
4th Place – Maleeha Rasheed
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Debate Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
6th Place – Genesis Abad
Individual Events Team Sweepstakes
1st Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
1st Place
2022-2023
2023 Interstate Oratory Association Contest (IOA)
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
2023 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Dramatic Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Octo-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
National Runner-Up – Zoe Bridges
Novice Dramatic Interpretation
3rd Place – Akshar Kota
Duo Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Yarely Galeno / Ana Izquierdo
Octo-Finalist – Chris Rapp / Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond / Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Aniyah Clemons / Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Noor Awaidah / Lavontae Morrow
6th Place – Lavontae Morrow / Darrow Richmond
Extemporaneous Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Octo-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Impromptu Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Octo-Finalist – David Kloc
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Emma Mathews
Informative Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Octo-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Poetry Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Aniyah Clemons
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Octo-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Emma Mathews
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
Octo-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Octo-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
6th Place – Zoe Bridges
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Rhetorical Criticism
Octo-Finalist – Noor Awaidah
Octo-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Pentathlon
11th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Open Division
5th Place
2023 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Communication Analysis
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Dramatic Interpretation
National Runner-Up – Zoe Bridges
Duo Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Yarely Galeno / Ana Izquierdo
Quarter-Finalist – Chris Rapp / Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond / Zoe Bridges
Quarter-Finalist – Emma Mathews/ Ana Izquierdo
6th Place – Aniyah Clemons / Zoe Bridges
National Runner-Ups – Lavontae Morrow / Darrow Richmond
Impromptu Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Poetry Interpretation
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Individual Sweeps
20th Place – Zoe Bridges
19th Place – Serena Ahmad
9th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Team Sweeps
7th Place
2023 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Communication Analysis
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Dramatic Interpretation
3rd Place – Zoe Bridges
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
3rd Place – Aniyah Clemons / Zoe Bridges
National Champion – Isaiah Morton/ Chris Rapp
Extemporaneous Speaking
3rd Place – Chris Rapp
National Runner-Up – Isabel Kapustka
Impromptu Speaking
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
National Champion – Chris Rapp
Informative Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Interviewing
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Serena Ahmad
Poetry Interpretation
6th Place – Isaiah Morton
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Prose Interpretation
4th Place Zoe Bridges
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Non-Scholarship Programs
National Champions
Overall Team Sweeps
National Runner-Ups
2023 Asynchronous Speech Championship (ASC)
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
5th Place – Chris Rapp
4th Place – Zoe Bridges
Communication Analysis
4th Place – Zoe Bridges
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Dramatic Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Yarely Galeno
Semi-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
Semi-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Semi-Finalist – Aniyah Clemons
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Zoe Bridges / Darrow Richmond
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp / Isaiah Morton
4th Place – Zoe Bridges / Aniyah Clemons
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – David Kloc
Semi-Finalist – Chris Rapp
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – David Kloc
Quarter-Finalist – Ian Talley
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
3rd Place – Genesis Abad
National Champion – Chris Rapp
Informative Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Yarely Galeno
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
6th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Yarely Galeno
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
National Champion – Zoe Bridges
Poetry Interpretation
4th Place – Aniyah Clemons
Program Oral Interpretation
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
National Champion – Isaiah Morton
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Isaiah Morton
Quarter-Finalist – Ana Izquierdo
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Semi-Finalist – Zoe Bridges
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Novice Individual Sweeps
5th Place – Ana Izquierdo
4th Place – Yarely Galeno
Open Individual Sweeps
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
National Champion – Zoe Bridges
Overall Team Sweeps
National Runner-Ups
2023 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
8th Place – Serena Ahmad
7th Place – Chris Rapp
Communication Analysis
4th Place – Genesis Abad
Dramatic Interpretation
5th Place – Zoe Bridges
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
4th Place – Chris Rapp/ Isaiah Morton
State Runner-Up – Aniyah Clemons / Zoe Bridges
Extemporaneous Speaking
6th Place – Genesis Abad
4th Place – Chris Rapp
State Runner-Up – Serena Ahmad
State Champion Isabel Kapustka
IPDA
Octo-Finalist – Orion Ward
Impromptu Speaking
State Champion Serena Ahmad
Informative Speaking
5th Place – Isabel Kapustka
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
3rd Place – Isabel Kapustka
State Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
State Champion – Serena Ahmad
Poetry Interpretation
4th Place – Aniyah Clemons
State Champion – Isaiah Morton
Program Oral Interpretation
6th Place – Emma Mathews
State Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
State Champion – Isaiah Morton
Prose Interpretation
3rd Place – Zoe Bridges
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Curt Byars Award
Serena Ahmad
Debate Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
5th Place – Isabel Kapustka
4th Place – Serena Ahmad
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Individual Events Team Sweepstakes
1st Place
Open Team Sweepstakes
State Champions
2023-2024
2024 Interstate Oratory Association Contest (IOA)
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
2024 National Forensics Association (NFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Octa-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Octa-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Octa-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Quarter-Finalist – Akshar Kota
Dramatic Interpretation
Octa-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Octa-Finalist – Daniel Irace
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
Octa-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka/Genesis Abad
Octa-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow/Daniel Irace
Octa-Finalist – Daniel Irace/Yarely Galeno
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond/Yarely Galeno
4th Place – Darrow Richmond/Lavontae Morrow
Extemporaneous Speaking
Octa-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
4th Place – Isabel Kapustka
Impromptu Speaking
Octa-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Informative Speaking
Octa-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Octa-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
6th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Daniel Irace
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Darrow Richmond
Program Oral Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Daniel Irace
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
3rd Place – Darrow Richmond
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Yarely Galeno
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
6th Place – Darrow Richmond
Rhetorical Criticism
Octa-Finalist – Jo Jadhav
Octa-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Pentathlon
7th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Open Team Sweepstakes
4th Place
2024 American Forensics Association (AFA) Tournament
After Dinner Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Communication Analysis
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Dramatic Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Daniel Irace
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Duo Interpretation
5th Place – Darrow Richmond/Lavontae Morrow
Extemporaneous Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
5th Place – Serena Ahmad
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Informative Speaking
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
Program Oral Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
Prose Interpretation
5th Place – Lavontae Morrow
National Runner-Up – Darrow Richmond
Individual Sweepstakes
6th Place – Darrow Richmond
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
Open Team Sweepstakes
5th Place
2024 Asynchronous Speech Championship (ASC)
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Communication Analysis
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
5th Place – Serena Ahmad
Dramatic Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Novice National Runner-Up – Daniel Irace
Duo Interpretation
3rd Place – Darrow Richmond/Lavontae Morrow
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
5th Place – Serena Ahmad
Impromptu Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Jo Jadhav
Semi-Finalist – Serena Ahmad
Semi-Finalist – Daniel Irace
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
5th Place – Isabel Kapustka
Informative Speaking
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Quarter-Finalist – Camille Wu
3rd Place – Isabel Kapustka
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
National Champion – Serena Ahmad
Poetry Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Darrow Richmond
Prose Interpretation
Quarter-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
Novice 3rd Place – Daniel Irace
Open Individual Sweepstakes
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Team Sweepstakes
National Runner-Ups
2024 National Speech Championship (NSC)
After Dinner Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Genesis Abad
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
Communication Analysis
4th Place – Serena Ahmad
National Runner-Up – Genesis Abad
Dramatic Interpretation
4th Place – Darrow Richmond
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
5th Place – Darrow Richmond/Yarely Galeno
3rd Place – Darrow Richmond/Lavontae Morrow
Extemporaneous Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
Impromptu Speaking
3rd Place – Isabel Kapustka
National Runner-Up – Serena Ahmad
Informative Speaking
5th Place – Isabel Kapustka
National Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
Semi-Finalist – Lavontae Morrow
4th Place – Isabel Kapustka
Poetry Interpretation
National Runner-Up – Darrow Richmond
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Program Oral Interpretation
Semi-Finalist – Darrow Richmond
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Prose Interpretation
3rd Place – Darrow Richmond
National Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Non-Scholarship Programs Sweepstakes
National Champions
Overall Team Sweepstakes
National Champions
2024 Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association (IIFA) State Tournament
Communication Analysis
3rd Place – Serena Ahmad
Dramatic Interpretation
5th Place – Darrow Richmond
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Duo Interpretation
4th Place – Darrow Richmond/Yarely Galeno
Extemporaneous Speaking
State Runner-Up – Serena Ahmad
IPDA
Octo-Finalist – Isabel Kapustka
Informative Speaking
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
Persuasive Speaking
6th Place – Isabel Kapustka
State Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Poetry Interpretation
3rd Place – Lavontae Morrow
State Champion – Darrow Richmond
Program Oral Interpretation
4th Place – Lavontae Morrow
3rd Place – Darrow Richmond
Prose Interpretation
State Runner-Up – Lavontae Morrow
Individual Speaker Sweepstakes
State Runner-Up – Darrow Richmond
State Champion – Lavontae Morrow
George Armstrong Cumulative Sweepstakes Award Recipients
Individual Events Sweepstakes
State Runner-Ups
Open Team Sweepstakes
State Runner-Ups
