ABERDEEN, S.D.?–?The Northern State University Speech and Debate team braved winter weather and the Big Apple to compete in the 2025 Off-Broadway Speech and Debate Tournament at Hofstra University in New York.

Over Dec. 6-7, the team competed in multiple speech and debate events. Neither the snow nor 19 other schools could keep Northern State University from returning to campus as champions in public forum debate.

The team of Hannah Smith and Liv Ashley won first place in public forum debate and placed as the second- and third-place overall speakers, respectively. Their success earned Northern State University second place in overall combined team debate points. Abiah George earned a bronze placing in international public debate and finished seventh in impromptu speaking. Haylee Bohnet also competed for Northern State University, earning the team valuable points in both dramatic and prose speaking.

“Transitioning to a new form of debate this fall proved challenging, but the hard work of the team paid off as we returned to this exceptional tournament and came home with another debate championship. I could not be prouder of the work my students have done not just in competition but in the support and encouragement they provide each other,” said Dr. Justin Gus Foote, director of Northern State University Speech and Debate.

Foote added, “Experiencing the unique culture of the nation’s largest city provides the students with contextual knowledge of their own lives. Getting to then combine this experience with what they have learned in practice and their own coursework truly allows the students to see how applicable their academic learning can be used outside of the classroom.”

The success of the team would not happen without the dedicated work done by first-year competitors who helped prepare the team in both research and practice. Northern State University thanks Andi Mehrer, Eden Ford, Dexter Hanson, Lauren Carpenter, Elena Bishop, Kim Portillo and Jericho Jones for their dedication this semester.

The team will look to continue its success at the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament March 18-22 in Springfield, Missouri.

For more information, contact Dr. Justin Gus Foote at Justin.foote@northern.edu.