Scholars of Speech: supporting collaboration, education, and innovation.

Speech and debate programs change lives by empowering students, building their confidence, and developing vital communication skills. For many students, these programs are inaccessible. Scholars of Speech is here to change that.

We’re a 501(c)(3), led by a board of expert educators, innovators, and community-minded collaborators, that hosts five yearly speech and debate competitions. Each competition raises money for in-need performance-oriented teams (such as speech, debate, mock trial, MUN, and theater programs), including Title 1 schools. While we’re based in Irvine, California, we have plans to expand nationwide.

Please visit our website -- https://www.scholarsofspeech.org/--for more details. We want to simplify and streamline speech and debate until it's as accessible and ubiquitous as sports. We need competitors and volunteers to do this.

THE LOCATION: 1530 Concordia, Irvine, CA 92612

When you arrive on campus, please go to GRIMM HALL. You'll see Grimm Hall marked 27/28 on the map, right next to the main parking lot. Our judges' room and nearly all our competition rooms will be there.

https://www.cui.edu/Portals/0/uploadedfiles/AboutCUI/Campus/cui_map_Final%20(1).pdf

The tournament will offer competition for elementary, middle, high school, and college students. Middle schoolers (seven and eighth grade) can judge elementary schoolers. High schoolers (tenth through twelfth grade) can judge middle school. Parents/community judges can judge any division.

Students may triple enter in speech events (including SPAR).

Public speaking awards will follow the GOLD/SILVER/BRONZE system familiar in the California Community College Forensics Association tournaments.

Additional awards for collegiality will be announced digitally based on the American Mock Trial Association’s Spirit of AMTA system.

Outstanding Judge awards will be announced digitally after students have had a chance to review their ballots.

Elementary + High School Schedule (Morning Rounds):

• 8:00 AM - Round 1 (all events)

• 9:30 AM - Round 2 (all events)

• 10:45 AM - Round 3 (all events)

• 12:15 PM - Finals (all events)

• 7:30 PM - Awards

Elementary Events:

Five-Minute Public Address (INF/OO), Five-Minute Acting (DEC/OPP/PRO/POE/STY), Impromptu, Spontaneous Argumentation.

High School Events:

Five-Minute Public Address (EXP/OO), Five-Minute Acting (DEC/OPP/PRO/POE/STY), Ten-Minute Public Address (INF/OO), Ten-Minute Acting (DEC/DI/HI/OPP/PRO/POE/POI), Impromptu, Spontaneous Argumentation.

Middle School Schedule (Afternoon Rounds)

• 1:30 PM - Round 1 (all events)

• 3:00 PM - Round 2 (all events)

• 4:15pm - Round 3 (all events)

• 5:45pm - Finals (all events)

• 7:30pm - Awards

Middle School Events:

Five-Minute Public Address (EXP/OO), Five-Minute Acting (DEC/OPP/PRO/POE/STY), Ten-Minute Public Address (INF/OO), Ten-Minute Acting (DEC/DI/HI/OPP/PRO/POE/POI), Impromptu, Spontaneous Argumentation.

FEES: None. This is a free tournament sponsored by Scholars of Speech, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Speech and debate programs change lives by empowering students, building their confidence, and developing vital communication skills. For many students, these programs are inaccessible. Scholars of Speech is here to change that.

By registering, you are accepting the risk of becoming infected by COVID-19 or other illnesses. The tournament will do everything possible to reduce the risk of infection, but we cannot guarantee you will avoid contracting illnesses.