NFA Nationals
In 1971, Dr. Seth Hawkins, concluding that the needs of the forensics community warranted a National I.E. Tournament invented a national championship in individual events, declared it official by fiat and sent invitations. The tournament featured Prose, Poetry, Extemporaneous, Impromptu, After-Dinner Speaking and Oratory. The following 23 schools were in attendance: American University (DC), Ball State University (IN), Defiance College (OH), Eastern Kentucky University, Eastern Michigan University, Evangel College (MO), Georgetown College (KY), Heidelberg College (OH), University of Kentucky, Lehigh University (PA), University of Southern Maine, University of Maryland, Miami University (OH), Niagara University (NY), Ohio University, Ohio Northern University, Purdue University (IN), Sheperd University (WV), Southern Connecticut State University, St John’s College (NY), St. Rose College (NY), West Chester University (PA) and Wright State University (OH).
In 1973, A draft constitution for the National Forensics Association was written in January to create a governing body for the I.E. Tournament. The constitution was accepted at the tournament in April at Eastern Michigan University.
For most of that time, Sacramento State was competing in team policy debate as a member of either CEDA or the NDT or both. In the 2014-2015 season, we started competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate and joined the NFA. While we qualified 5 students to the national tournament that season, we did not attend. The following season, three students attended the NFA National Championship Tournament hosted by Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Our first elim round participant at this tournament was in the 2016-2017 season and we have been consistently getting students into elims ever since.
In 1973, A draft constitution for the National Forensics Association was written in January to create a governing body for the I.E. Tournament. The constitution was accepted at the tournament in April at Eastern Michigan University.
For most of that time, Sacramento State was competing in team policy debate as a member of either CEDA or the NDT or both. In the 2014-2015 season, we started competing in Lincoln-Douglas debate and joined the NFA. While we qualified 5 students to the national tournament that season, we did not attend. The following season, three students attended the NFA National Championship Tournament hosted by Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana. Our first elim round participant at this tournament was in the 2016-2017 season and we have been consistently getting students into elims ever since.
Qualified Hornets
For the 2024-2025 (CURRENT) Season:
Host: Wayne State University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase prohibitions on the development and/or use of artificial intelligence in one or more of the following areas: law enforcement, automation, and/or privacy.
Qualified in LD Debate:
Tyler Gardner, Alia Khan, Tatiana Trujillo, Jason Sabbadini
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Bruce Mahon
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Tatiana Trujillo, Jason Sabbadini, Megan Weiner
For the 2023-2024 Season:
Host: Central Michigan University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce the number and/or role of its nuclear weapons.
Qualified in LD Debate:
Josue De Leon*, Mari Garcia*, Tyler Gardner*, Utkarsh Mehta, Autumn Nowdesha, Steve Rincon, Tatiana Trujillo*, George Vang
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Josue De Leon, Mari Garcia, Arishma Karan, Autumn Nowdesha, Tatiana Trujillo
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Josue De Leon, Mari Garcia, Tyler Gardner, Chris Monheit, Tatiana Trujillo
For the 2022 - 2023 Season:
Host: Bradley University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on political campaigns for public office in one or more of the following areas: political communication, campaign spending, interest groups.
Qaulified in LD Debate:
Jackie Blair*, Tyler Gardner, Daniel Gonzales, Tony Escalante*, Tehreem Khan, Autumn Nowdesha*, Tatiana Trujillo*, George Vang*
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Tyler Gardner, Tony Escalante, Tatiana Trujillo, George Vang
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Tyler Gardner
For the 2021-2022 Season:
Host: Illinois State University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its counterterrorism operations in one or more of the following areas: statutory authorization for use of military force, air and/or drone strikes, combat and/or 127e programs.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, David Kirker*, Ariella Sotello*
*all three were also qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking.
For the 2020-2021 Season:
Host: Lafayette College (ONLINE)
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement immigration reform that removes substantial statutory restrictions on legal immigration into the United States.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, Jackie Blair*, Tony Escalante*, Mahala Rogers*
For the 2019-2020 Season: (Season ended without Nationals due to global pandemic)
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement an energy policy that substantially increases investments in one or more of the following domestic energy sectors: geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, wind.
Ayyah Al-jibouri, Joey Barrows, Sean Cox-Marcellin, Earl Crouchley III, Daniel Pasahan, Jasmine Putman, Julian Stacy, Johnny Schimmelman, Jordan Waters
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Ayyah Al-jibouri, Joey Barrows, Sean Cox-Marcellin, Jasmine Putman, Jordan Waters
For the 2018-2019 Season:
Host: The City of Santa Ana, California
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase actions by United States Cyber Command to prevent complex catastrophe and/or protect critical infrastructure.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, Joey Barrows*, Adam De Camp*, Maria Burke, Daylon Hawn, Miranda Konoplisky, Zia Landis, Sumneet Nirankari, Kevin Ozomaro*, Jasmine Putman*, Brandon Scott, Raj Singh*, Avneet Uppal*
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Joey Barrows, Adam De Camp, Kevin Ozomaro
For the 2017-2018 Season:
Host: The University of Wisconsin, Osh-Kosh
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase the regulation of state and/or local police misconduct in the United States.
Mayra Alvarez, Ryan Bittle, Kelly Buckband*, Adam De Camp, Stephen Franco, Bailey Greenslit, Casey Jennett*, Aundrey Mosley, Kevin Ozomaro*, Evangelic Schuhmeier*, Raj Singh*, Rafael Zarazua.
For the 2016-2017 Season:
Host: The University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the role of the United States Southern Command in Latin America.
(The topic paper for this season was written and submitted by Sac State Debate)
Denise Barajas, Maria Burke*, Ryan Bittle, Bethany Davis*, Michael Dittmer, Stephen Franco, Brandon Garcia, Banafshae Khan*, Elizabeth Lara, Melissa Mejia, Evangelic Schuhmeier, Kyle Shallcross*, Kaitlyn Sullins, Dean Talley*, Melissa Mejia.
For the 2015-2016 Season:
Host: Ball State University
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase restrictions on bioprospecting.
Brandon Garcia*, Bria Jones, Banafshae Khan*, Maria McMahon, Alex Severson*.
For the 2014-2015 Season:
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should increase its development of the Earth's moon in one or more of the following areas: energy, minerals, and/or water.
Genesis Burns, Brandon Garcia, Joe Lederer, Alex Severson, Kenneth Willburn
( * indicates the student attended Nationals. Sacramento State did not attend NFA Nationals in 14/15)
Host: Wayne State University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase prohibitions on the development and/or use of artificial intelligence in one or more of the following areas: law enforcement, automation, and/or privacy.
Qualified in LD Debate:
Tyler Gardner, Alia Khan, Tatiana Trujillo, Jason Sabbadini
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Bruce Mahon
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Tatiana Trujillo, Jason Sabbadini, Megan Weiner
For the 2023-2024 Season:
Host: Central Michigan University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce the number and/or role of its nuclear weapons.
Qualified in LD Debate:
Josue De Leon*, Mari Garcia*, Tyler Gardner*, Utkarsh Mehta, Autumn Nowdesha, Steve Rincon, Tatiana Trujillo*, George Vang
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Josue De Leon, Mari Garcia, Arishma Karan, Autumn Nowdesha, Tatiana Trujillo
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Josue De Leon, Mari Garcia, Tyler Gardner, Chris Monheit, Tatiana Trujillo
For the 2022 - 2023 Season:
Host: Bradley University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on political campaigns for public office in one or more of the following areas: political communication, campaign spending, interest groups.
Qaulified in LD Debate:
Jackie Blair*, Tyler Gardner, Daniel Gonzales, Tony Escalante*, Tehreem Khan, Autumn Nowdesha*, Tatiana Trujillo*, George Vang*
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Tyler Gardner, Tony Escalante, Tatiana Trujillo, George Vang
Qualified in Impromptu Speaking:
Tyler Gardner
For the 2021-2022 Season:
Host: Illinois State University
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its counterterrorism operations in one or more of the following areas: statutory authorization for use of military force, air and/or drone strikes, combat and/or 127e programs.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, David Kirker*, Ariella Sotello*
*all three were also qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking.
For the 2020-2021 Season:
Host: Lafayette College (ONLINE)
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement immigration reform that removes substantial statutory restrictions on legal immigration into the United States.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, Jackie Blair*, Tony Escalante*, Mahala Rogers*
For the 2019-2020 Season: (Season ended without Nationals due to global pandemic)
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement an energy policy that substantially increases investments in one or more of the following domestic energy sectors: geothermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, solar, wind.
Ayyah Al-jibouri, Joey Barrows, Sean Cox-Marcellin, Earl Crouchley III, Daniel Pasahan, Jasmine Putman, Julian Stacy, Johnny Schimmelman, Jordan Waters
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Ayyah Al-jibouri, Joey Barrows, Sean Cox-Marcellin, Jasmine Putman, Jordan Waters
For the 2018-2019 Season:
Host: The City of Santa Ana, California
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase actions by United States Cyber Command to prevent complex catastrophe and/or protect critical infrastructure.
Ayyah Al-jibouri*, Joey Barrows*, Adam De Camp*, Maria Burke, Daylon Hawn, Miranda Konoplisky, Zia Landis, Sumneet Nirankari, Kevin Ozomaro*, Jasmine Putman*, Brandon Scott, Raj Singh*, Avneet Uppal*
Qualified in Extemporaneous Speaking:
Joey Barrows, Adam De Camp, Kevin Ozomaro
For the 2017-2018 Season:
Host: The University of Wisconsin, Osh-Kosh
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase the regulation of state and/or local police misconduct in the United States.
Mayra Alvarez, Ryan Bittle, Kelly Buckband*, Adam De Camp, Stephen Franco, Bailey Greenslit, Casey Jennett*, Aundrey Mosley, Kevin Ozomaro*, Evangelic Schuhmeier*, Raj Singh*, Rafael Zarazua.
For the 2016-2017 Season:
Host: The University of Wisconsin, Eau Claire
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the role of the United States Southern Command in Latin America.
(The topic paper for this season was written and submitted by Sac State Debate)
Denise Barajas, Maria Burke*, Ryan Bittle, Bethany Davis*, Michael Dittmer, Stephen Franco, Brandon Garcia, Banafshae Khan*, Elizabeth Lara, Melissa Mejia, Evangelic Schuhmeier, Kyle Shallcross*, Kaitlyn Sullins, Dean Talley*, Melissa Mejia.
For the 2015-2016 Season:
Host: Ball State University
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase restrictions on bioprospecting.
Brandon Garcia*, Bria Jones, Banafshae Khan*, Maria McMahon, Alex Severson*.
For the 2014-2015 Season:
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should increase its development of the Earth's moon in one or more of the following areas: energy, minerals, and/or water.
Genesis Burns, Brandon Garcia, Joe Lederer, Alex Severson, Kenneth Willburn
( * indicates the student attended Nationals. Sacramento State did not attend NFA Nationals in 14/15)
How to qualify for NFA Nationals
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In order for a student to qualify Lincoln-Douglas Debate for competition at the National Tournament, the following criteria must be met:
1. The student must be an undergraduate student enrolled at the institution that they represented at the qualification tournament. 2. At least 3 schools entered in LD. 3. A total of at least 5 students entered in LD. 4. The debate tournament must employ the NFA Lincoln-Douglas topic and rules. 5. At least 4 preliminary rounds of competition (elimination rounds are encouraged but are optional as qualification to the National Championship Tournament is determined based on preliminary round seeding). 6. The number of qualifications is based on the following formula: 5-8 entrants = 2 qualifiers 9-16 entrants = 4 qualifiers 17-32 entrants = 8 qualifiers 33-65 entrants = 16 qualifiers 65-128 entrants = 32 qualifiers 129 + entrants = 64 qualifiers 7. In the event that an entrant has a winning record (i.e. 3-1 or 4-2, NOT 2-2 or 3-3) and falls outside of the qualifier range, that student would also qualify. Winning records will always qualify and sometimes a 2-2 or 3-3 record will qualify. 8. In cases where both open, junior varsity and novice divisions of Lincoln-Douglas debate are offered,students may qualify from any division so long as the above criteria are met. |
In order for a student to qualify any of the individual speaking events for competition at the National Tournament, the following criteria must be met:
1. The student must be enrolled at the institution which they represented at the qualification tournament. 2. At least 7 schools entered in the qualification tournament. 3. At least 11 entrants in the event. * 4. At least 3 performances. ** 5. At least 3 ballots. 6. Reaching the final round; which is defined by the top 6 competitors after preliminary rounds. Ties deemed unbreakable may allow for more than 6 to advance, in which case all finalists will qualify. 7. Qualification tournaments may not systematically employ current competing students in the judging pool. 8. In the event that a state tournament does not meet the 7 school requirement expected of open invitational tournaments, qualifications will be granted provided that a minimum of 3 schools are in attendance. No state may request an exemption for more than one tournament in any given academic year. The request for a waiver of the 7 schools requirement must be submitted to the Tournament Director of the NFA’s National Championship Tournament within two weeks of the date of the state tournament by the state tournament director or other state organization officer. 9. When a tournament has six schools competing at the start of the tournament, the Tournament Director may apply for a waiver of the "seven-schools" requirement if (1) at least seven schools had officially entered the tournament and (2) the "seventh school" failed to give 24 hours’ notice of their withdrawal before the start of competition. The tournament director must apply for the waiver within two weeks by contacting the Tournament Director for the NFA’s National Championship Tournament. The NFA’s Tournament Director may request supporting materials such as a letter from the withdrawing school or registration materials for the withdrawing school. 10. In the event that there are less than 11 entrants, criteria 2, 4 and 5 must still be met, and if so, the top fifty percent of the entrants will qualify. 11. In the event that there are less than 8 entrants who all compete in the same section, criteria 2 and 5 must still be met, and if so, the top fifty percent of the entrants will qualify. 12. For tournaments with 60 or more entrants in an event where no semifinal rounds are held, then the top 10% of entrants will qualify for the national tournament. In the case where there are 60 or more entrants in an event and semifinal rounds are held, then all semifinalists will qualify for the national tournament. In the case where there are more than 90 entrants in an event and ‘super semis’ or quarter final rounds are held, then all contestants in the appropriate elimination rounds will qualify for the national tournament. 13. In cases where both novice and open divisions of the same event are offered, the finalists in both divisions will qualify, as long as they still meet the above criteria. |