Published on October 19, 2017 by Sean Flynt  
debate vanderbilt
Samford debaters celebrate honors from the Vanderbilt tournament

Members of Samford University’s debate team earned a number of honors at a Vanderbilt University debate tournament Oct. 14-15.

Kiarra Broadnax of Smiths Station, Alabama, was named fifth speaker in the novice division competition alongside teammate Julie Ramsey of Kunming, China.

In the junior varsity division, Samford debaters Kevin Aubrey of Lafayette, Louisiana and Sarabeth Wendt of Round Rock, Texas, were named sixth and tenth speaker, respectively.

Niki Brooks of Alpharetta, Georgia, was named sixth speaker in the varsity division competition alongside teammate Robbie Nikont of Lakewood, Colorado. Brooks and Nikont reached the “elite eight” of their division.

The Samford team of Jamie Davenport and Moriah Windus of Ozark, Alabama, also competed in the varsity division.

In addition to its nationally competitive teams, Samford’s debate program hosts the Samford University Public Debate Series, the Bishop Guild Debate Tournament, the Birmingham Area Debate League and a Summer Debate Institute for high school students. 

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 5,791 students from 49 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks 6th nationally for its Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.