Volume 35, Issue 2

The Jeff State Speech and Debate Team had an incredible year despite the season’s virtual format, which culminated in a terrific showing at Nationals April 9th-11th. Results for the tournament and for the season were revealed at the end of the tournament. The Jeff State team won 2nd place community college, and every Jeff State debate team member won multiple preliminary rounds. The debaters for Jeff State in the Novice Division were Blake Denney, Kylie Jordan, and Jacob Davidson. The debaters for Jeff State in the Junior Varsity Division were Zavoun Watts and Daniel Davis. In addition to the preliminary round wins, Kylie Jordan made it to the Double Octofinal round in Novice, and Daniel Davis made it to the Double Octofinal round in Junior Varsity. The debaters received support from their researchers Cameron Hodge, Joseph Honeycutt, MJ Dailey, Heaven Shepperd and their fellow teammates, Ali Richard and Kelvin Thomas, who judged rounds for the tournament. The team was led to victory by coach, Dr. Janice Ralya, and assistant coach, Jacob Humphries.

Out of 150 colleges and universities with over 1,000 competitors, the Jeff State Speech and Debate Team won 3rd place Community College in the nation, 6th place Novice Squad in the nation, 16th place for the Founders Award, and 15th place for the Scholastic Award for the season. Additionally, Jacob Davidson became the most successful debater in Jeff State history being ranked 3rd out of 303 Novice Debaters from colleges and universities from across the nation. 

The Jefferson State Spotlight Drama Club is always busy, and we are looking for members who are interested in every aspect of theatre – performing, writing, directing, tech, stage management, among others.

Past projects include staged readings at PioneerCon, performing student-written plays at the annual Evening of Performance, collaborations with other campus organizations like SKD and PTK, and, of course, full productions live onstage and on Zoom. Past shows include well-known plays such as Bus Stop, Harvey, The Curious Savage, and The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

We’re embarking on something new and exciting in fall 2021! Alongside our friends in Phi Theta Kappa, we are writing an original script about an important period in Alabama history. PTK members are close to completing the script, and we need actors to play the many roles in the play. That’s where you come in, so keep an eye on your inbox for audition announcements.

Want to play (pun intended)? Email theater instructor and club sponsor Lesley Warren – ggray2@jeffersonstate.edu to be added to her list of club members. You’ll receive updates on meeting times, auditions, rehearsals, everything!

In the middle of the Spring 2021 semester, as students in Speech 106 and 107 got ready to present their required informative speeches for class, Sigma Chi Eta and the Speech and Debate Team hosted a joint workshop to help students prepare for these speeches. The workshop was a panel discussion moderated by Sigma Chi Eta VP of Service, MJ Dailey.  Current and former Jeff State students successful in giving public speeches answered questions from the moderator to help audience members better understand the nuances of giving an effective speech. After the moderated portion of the workshop, audience members were encouraged to ask questions.

The night was a huge success with over 100 people in attendance via Zoom. Sigma Chi Eta and the Speech and Debate Team are considering the possibility of offering the event every semester so that students in these classes can get advice from more experienced students. At this inaugural workshop, the panelists included former Jeff State student and current Assistant Debate Coach, Jacob Humphries; former Sigma Chi Eta Zeta Chapter President and Debate Team Member, Joseph Honeycutt; current Sigma Chi Eta Zeta Chapter President and Debate Team Captain, Daniel Davis; and current Debate Team President, Heaven Shepperd.

Sigma Chi Eta hosted “A Night of Discussion” with Dr. Sherry Ford from the University of Montevallo on April 7. Dr. Ford discussed the details of the Communications Department at Montevallo to interested Jeff State students and faculty in attendance over Zoom. Dr. Ford not only talked about the different professors in the department at Montevallo, each of their specialties, and the environment students can expect at Montevallo, but she also talked about where previous students have gone with the skills they developed at Montevallo and what doors may open to students who decide to come to Montevallo and study with the Communications Department. Dr. Ford gave an incredible presentation and then stayed open for questions from the audience. Those in attendance got a first-hand look at what the Communications Department at Montevallo has to offer.