EASTON, PA – In February, Lafayette Forensics Society hosted the Pennsylvania Forensics Association’s (PFA) State Championship. After months of preparation, the team reached its goal and won the state championship for the first time in 11 years and only the second time ever. Individually, SIX different students were named state champions and LFS was represented in the finals of 11 out of 13 events. 

The state tournament is also responsible for selecting two members from the state of Pennsylvania to represent the state at the Interstate Oratorical Association’s (IOA) annual tournament.  The IOA tournament is the longest running public speaking competition in the nation and is limited to only two students per state.  Lafayette Forensics Society has the honor of representing the state with not just one, but TWO students.  State champion in Persuasion, Lia Charles, and 2nd place finisher Saeed Malami earned the right to compete at this prestigious and exclusive competition. 

Anshuman Mishra was even elected to serve as one of the student representatives to PFA for the coming academic year. Every team member can be proud of the work they put in this weekend!

State Champions:
PERSUASION – Lia Charles
DUO INTERPRETATION – Saeed Malami and Kelly Mwaamba
RHETORICAL CRITICISM – Scott Kamen
DRAMATIC INTERPRETATION – Lauren Stango
LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE – Luisa Gunn

Full Results:
Saeed Malami – 1st DUO, 2nd DI, 2nd PER, and 3rd POI
Scott Kamen – 1st CRIT, 3rd Duo, 3rd INFO, 4th PROSE, and 5th PER
Lauren Stango – 1st DI, 3rd DUO, and 3rd PROSE
Kelly Mwaamba – 1st DUO, 3rd DI, and 4th POE
Lia Charles – 1st PER, 3rd CRIT, and 6th EXTEMP
Luisa Gunn – 1st LD, 3rd PER
Anastasiia Shakhurina – 5th PROSE and 6th DI
Eleanor Griffiths –  6th ADS
Jenny Chen – 6th POE
Kaitlin McNamara – 6th POI
Yordanos Mengistu – 2nd LD

Team Sweepstakes – Champions

Individual Accomplishments:
Individual Sweepstakes/Quadrathon: Saeed Malami 3rd Place; Scott Kamen 5th Place
PA State Rep for 2019-2020: Ansh Mishra
Interstate Oratory Participants: Lia Charles and Saeed Malami

The team is ecstatic about how States turned out and is looking forward to the remainder of the semester!