Empowering students
through speech
Developing Communication Skills
No matter a student’s planned career field, effective communication skills are crucial. Speech and debate prepares students for college, careers and life. The South Carolina Forensic Coaches Association believes that the skills learned through forensics — speech and debate — offer lifelong benefits to students.
The goal of the SCFCA is to provide the opportunities of speech and debate to as many students as possible. The association acts as a resource to member schools, recruits new member schools and helps coordinate and schedule state tournaments. We connect, support and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate.
Types of Competition
In South Carolina, there are basically two types of competition: individual events and debate. Students often choose to participate in one or the other, though there is no reason they cannot do both.
Individual events, or IE, is a type of speech competition characterized by individuals competing in a variety of different events. These events span the areas of public speaking, acting, reading and interpretation. Events include dramatic and humorous interpretation, program oral interpretation, original oratory, extemporaneous speaking, storytelling and novice reading.
Debate is a type of competition in which students debate pre-defined topics. In South Carolina, debate competition generally includes public forum debate, congressional debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate.
Speech and Debate Helps Students
Improve reading, listening, speaking and writing skills.
Develop critical-thinking skills and intellectual curiosity.
Excel academically and personally.
If your high school doesn’t have a speech program, we are here to help. Find out how your school can develop a program that inspires, educates and empowers students to become tomorrow’s leaders.
South Carolina Student Success at 2024 Nationals
A number of South Carolina students found success at the 2024 National Tournament, which was held in Des Moines, Iowa during the third week of June.
From left, Riverside High School students Shanik Miedreich (senior), Gauryama Blanchard (senior) and Treesa Abraham (junior) pose for a photo after making quarterfinal breaks at the 2024 National Tournament.
Riverside High School student Kai Tucker (junior) broke to octafinals at the 2024 National Tournament.
Interpretation and Speech
In main interpretation and speech events, the following students made breaks at the 2024 tournament:
Treesa Abraham (junior, Riverside High School) was a quarterfinalist, placing 15th in the nation in informative speaking.
Gauryama Blanchard (senior, Riverside High School) was a quarterfinalist, placing 28th in the nation in dramatic interpretation.
Shanik Miedreich (senior, Riverside High School) was a quarterfinalist, placing 29th in the nation in dramatic interpretation.
Kai Tucker (junior, Riverside High School) was an octafinalist, placing 41st in the nation in humorous interpretation.
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
From left, Bob Jones Academy student Madigan Lawlor (senior) stands with his coaches, Gail and Chuck Nicholas, following the district tournament in March.
Madigan Lawlor placed 26th in the nation in Lincoln-Douglas debate.
World Schools Debate
The South Carolina Blue team made a break to triple octafinals.
This team was comprised of two students from Eastside High School: Owen Talbot Davis and Nathan Thomas and two students from Greenville High School: Joshua Begelman and Jonathan Sheridan.
South Carolina student Laurel Holley won the national championship in U.S. extemporaneous speaking in 2021.
Laurel, who now attends Duke University, was a senior at Riverside High School in Greer.
