For Immediate Release – Lawton, OK, March 5, 2007
Cameron speech and debate team best in
state
The Cameron University Speech and Debate Team traveled to the state competition held Feb. 23-24 in
Norman. Eight state schools attended the event including Carl Albert State, Northeastern State, Oklahoma
City University, Oklahoma State-OKC, Southern Nazarene, Tulsa Community College, the University of
Oklahoma and Cameron.
In a close competition, the Cameron Speech Team overcame a dominant University of Oklahoma team to
become the top team in the state for the 2006-07 season. In order to win the overall award, the team had to
be competitive in individual events (public speaking and oral interpretation) and team debate. Cameron had
a slight advantage because of its excellence in the debate competition on the first day of the tournament.
However, Oklahoma made a strong showing in individual events, winning nine of eleven first place awards.
At the end of the second day with all the points tallied, Cameron was the top team of the tournament.
Cameron won the First Place Team Debate Sweepstakes Award by winning first, second, and third place in
the tournament. Malinda Rust and Bethany Beck were first; Lauren Barbour and Cathryn Good stood
second, both with perfect 4-0 records. Craig Dudley and Greg Walker won third place with a 3-1 record.
Malinda Rust was the top individual speaker while Bethany Beck placed second, and Lauren Barbour
placed fourth.
In addition to the success in debate, eight team members received awards for their public speaking and
oral interpretation skills leading to a Second Place Team Individual Events Sweepstakes Award. Cathryn
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Speech/debate, ADD ONE
Good was first place in Prose and received honors in three other events. Craig Dudley received awards in
four events including a duo with Malinda Rust. Other members receiving multiple honors were Kamaya
Ousley, Bethany Beck, Charlie Kirby, Greg Walker, and Lauren Barbour. In addition to the team success,
Bethany Beck received a special honor when her debate and individual events points combined to make
her the top competitor in the state.
"The results speak for themselves. We are very excited to be the #1 speech team in Oklahoma,” said Tyler
Thornton, CU’s speech and debate coach. “I am proud of all the work the team did to come together and
win the top honor in the state. They deserve a great deal of credit for their efforts."
Below is a team roster including student information:
Malinda Rust, junior, Speech Communication, Lawton
Bethany Beck, junior, Speech Communication, Lawton
Kamaya Ousley, senior, Business Administration, Fort Sill
Lauren Barbour, sophomore, Speech Communication, Lawton
Cathryn Good, sophomore, Speech Communication, Education, Tipton
Craig Dudley, freshman, Speech Communication, Lone Grove
Greg Walker, freshman, Speech Communication, Marietta
Charlie Kirby, freshman, Elementary Education, Lawton
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PR# 07-033
Editors and Broadcasters: For more information, contact Amber McNeil, Director of
Media Relations, in the Office of Community Relations at 580.581.2611.