Dr. Gloria Batiste-Roberts, head coach of the internationally renowned Texas Southern University (TSU) Debate Team, just couldn’t keep it to herself.
Though her 17 students had just culminated a grueling competition—the 35th Annual International Forensics Association’s (IFA) Speech and Debate Tournament held halfway around the world in Incheon, South Korea—Batiste-Roberts jumped on the phone and shared the news with the Defender.
“We just won first place, in the International Championship, with the International Forensic Association Tournament, and we are so excited to be a winner again,” said Batiste-Roberts. “This is our fifth win internationally.”
The team’s last international victory came in 2018 in Montreal.
In addition to winning the coveted first-place sweepstakes award as the overall champions, the team earned 21 awards, including first place in Poetry, Dramatic Interpretation and Duo Dramatic Interpretation. They also earned fourth and fifth place in the Parliamentary Debate Speakers Awards.
The TSU Debate Team showed out at a competition that featured 27 teams from across the U.S. and around the world.
And that’s not all.
“One of our assistant coaches, Ms. Trendi Nguyen, was nominated and elected for an office. She is the international liaison to the IFA executive committee, and that is a position we’re very proud that she will hold,” said Batiste-Roberts, of Nguyen, who also works in TSU’s Student Services Office.
TSU Debate Team members had their sights set on the South Korea competition for an entire year.
“When we competed in this competition in Ireland last year, the result wasn’t what we prepared for and it motivated us to work harder throughout the year to be ready for this moment,” said Debate Team member Jaila Hampton. “It was gratifying to compete at the level to which we knew we were capable. We are excited to bring another international championship back to Texas Southern.”
Members of the team included:
- Adaiah Amaechi
- Aaliyah Jackson
- Brooke Logan
- Jaila Hampton
- Erwen Little
- Myesha Owens
- Morgan Williams
- Valerie Mulure
- Jordyn Wardsworth
- Kaylee Flowers-Burris
- Nia Harrison
- Amalia Charles
- Alexander Williams
- Amaya Tootle
- Cherish Johnson
- Zyias Richards
- Justice Garcia
The team was accompanied by seven assistant coaches – Jordon Williams, Sondera Malry, Atty. Marcus Ester, Jessica Johnson, Chantule Baccus, Mikayla Wallace and Nguyen.
“All of our assistant coaches are former members of the Debate Team, so they understand the history of the Debate Team. We turned 76 years old this month, and under the spirit of Dr. Thomas F. Freeman, who founded the team in 1949, we are so excited about the tradition of the team and the continued outstanding performances of our students,” added Batiste-Roberts.
