MC
Mara Cantrell-Paulson
  • theatre arts
  • Class of 2015
  • Sioux City, IA

Mara Cantrell-Paulson completes debate season at Augustana

2012 Jun 19

Augustana's debate team rounded out the 2011-2012 season successfully. A winter term packed with nationwide debates prepared the Augustana Debate Union (ADU) for post season success.

The ADU completed their 2011-2012 campaign by competing with 163 other teams at the Cross Examination Debate Associations National Championship Tournament (CEDA). This tournament, held at the University of Oklahoma, recognizes the top competitive and individual achievements for the seven month debate season.

Augustana student JohnDaniel Engelhardt, who will be a junior next year, was selected to CEDA's All-American Debate Team, a group of the top 30 debaters in the country.

CEDA marked the end of the Viking's twelve tournament season. "The Vikings have a lot of success to proudly look back upon," said Max Archer, visiting instructor in speech communications and ADU advisor.

"We are proud of the debate team. The debaters work very hard in preparing for debates, travel long hours, and have to deal with the stress and anticipation of competition," said Dr. Sharon Varallo, professor of communications at Augustana College.

"The debate topics are always challenging, but debaters are unafraid of a challenge," continued Dr. Varallo.

Aiding in the team's success this year included:

Mara Cantrell-Paulson, a sophomore from Sioux City, Iowa, majoring in undecided.

"ADU students gain a great deal of knowledge about debate strategies and tactics," explained Archer.

During the 2011-2012 season, the Augustana team competed in the National Junior Division Debate Tournament at Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kan. Also among their travels were visits to Wake Forest University, University of Iowa, University of North Texas and Indiana University, and they helped host a competition at Augustana College in January.