Dear Coach:

You are cordially invited to participate in the 30th Annual KESDA Senior State Tournament, February 20-22, 2020.  The tournament will be held at the Clarion Hotel in Lexington, KY.

 KESDA, the Kentucky Educational Speech and Drama Association, gives senior high students a competitive arena where they can apply the effective communication skills acquired in the classroom and coaching sessions. You’ve worked hard all year, and the KESDA Tournament is the ideal place for your entire team to share their best work with judges and competitors from across the state.  For students hoping to compete nationally, KESDA’s multi-day schedule and strong level of competition offer a great testing ground.

 Students love this tournament both for its sheer competitiveness and for its unique social opportunities, including a dance on Friday night and an awards banquet Saturday evening.  The hotel also offers swimming, video games, and a basketball court.

 To keep the fun coming, we will again offer the popular improv event, “The Ad Game.”  Last year it added an entirely new element of camaraderie to Kentucky forensics!   

 At KESDA, there are no prequalification requirements; your entire team may compete.  With the exception of Group Interp, entries are unlimited.  A student may enter a maximum of 5 events.

 Individual awards will be presented for 1st-6th place in each event as well as Pentathlon. The Pentathlon winner will win a one-time college scholarship. In addition to recognizing the top, non-advancing novice in each event, as well as the non-advancing quarter and semifinalists, we will be offering at least one final round for non-advancing novices.  There are several opportunities for teams to take home team hardware.  In addition to the overall team sweepstakes, up to three team awards will be given for the “Greynolds Sweepstakes,” open to schools with twenty or fewer entries.  The traveling trophy based on team efficiency is also awarded.

 We look forward to seeing you February 20-22nd at the 2020 KESDA Tournament!

 Sincerely,

 Dr. Edward B. Smith & Betsy B. Smith

 Executive Directors, KESDA

Georgetown College, 400 East College Street, Georgetown, KY 40324

1-859-492-9163; edwardbetsy@bellsouth.net; ed_smith@georgetowncollege.edu