LSUS Student Takes Top Debate Honors
04/23/04

A.J. Edwards, LSUS Debate Team captain and senior criminal justice major, took first place in the top division of the International Public Debate Association (IPDA) at the national convention and tournament last weekend (April 16-18).

Edwards’ top spot reflects his year-long performance in win-loss records against competitors in the IPDA Open Division, a mixed division of graduate students, debate coaches and professionals. Edwards chose to move up to the Open Division after taking first place honors in the Varsity (undergraduate) Division at the 2003 IPDA national tournament, even though he will not graduate from LSUS until the fall 2004 semester.

“Edwards has been working hard for this award,” Debate Coach Jorji Jarzabek said. “He proved himself in the undergraduate ranks and wanted to prove himself in the top division as well. He has not only shown he is the best in the nation, but he has been invaluable in his help to the other members of the debate team.”

The LSUS Debate Team was edged out of a repeat as IPDA national champion by a Louisiana Tech team coached by LSUS alumni debater Trey Gibson. The difference between first and second place was a scant seven points out of a year-long total of 290 points.

“This was another excellent year for the LSUS debate program,” Jarzabek said. “We had a photo finish at the end of the year with a team coached by one of our own. I am extremely proud of all the team members!”

In the various division races for season points, the LSUS debate team was ranked second in Open, fourth in Varsity, and third in Novice. The team also won fourth place sweepstakes points for their national tournament performances.

Team members include co-captain, Ebony Holliday, a senior criminal justice major who was ranked 10th in national season points in the Varsity division. Alan Trichell, a junior journalism major, was ranked fourth in national season points in Varsity, and Melissa Mjaseth, a senior criminal justice major, won the sixth place speaker award and was a quarterfinalist for the national tournament. Alysia Wilson, a senior journalism major, ranked eighth in national season points in the Novice division and was also a quarterfinalist, and Randy Patrick, a junior journalism major, was a quarterfinalist. Also competing at the tournament were Mick Strong, a senior physics major; Kamel Benyahia, a junior business major, and Keith Milstead, a junior in communications. LSUS students Teasha Barker, Porscha Morgan, Kevin Gaspard, Eric Hammons and Erica Ramey helped the team by serving as judges for the tournament.