To the University,
Forensics is...

an opportunity to demonstrate academic excellence, to excel in competition of the intellect, and to extend the academic atmosphere.

To the student, Forensics is an opportunity to cultivate life-long friendships, travel the country, and do what you love.

 

The Director's Welcome

Welcome to WKU Forensics! My life forever changed through my participation in forensics at WKU and I have seen the activity have similar impact on thousands of students across the nation. I am happy you are interested in learning more about this incredible activity.

Forensics, or competitive speech and debate, offers students ranging from junior high to college age the skills necessary to confidently and effectively communicate in any situation. This activity teaches students to research, write and deliver valuable messages. By participating in forensics, students follow current events, become exposed to a wide-array of fiction and non-fiction literature, engage in critical discourse, and learn how to become wise consumers of persuasion.

But forensics does so much more than that.

It gives students an opportunity to share their experiences. Forensics is a forum that exposes participants to diverse perspectives and ultimately, encourages the recognition of our shared humanity. For this reason, students in the activity are not only impressive in job interviews, but also tend to be more engaged in social issues civic life.

Forensics at WKU has a long and storied tradition. We are the oldest and most successful student organization on campus. Our program has won more national forensics titles in the last ten years than any other team in the country. WKU is the only team to win the American Forensic Association national title, National Forensic Association national title, NFA debate national title and the International Forensic Association title all in the same year, a benchmark the team has set six times.

Our students are not only leaders in forensics, they are also leaders in our campus community. Our diverse team of 48 individuals represent 16 states and 18 different majors. Team members serve the university in a variety of capacities. Current team members work as official university ambassadors, hold positions in our Student Government Association, and several members serve on the Dean's Council of Students.

We have produced multiple university, national, and international scholars who have received prestigious fellowships and grants, including Fulbrights. Our graduates have gone on to earn master's degrees in a variety of fields, PhDs, EdDs, and law degrees (with one recent graduate scoring in the top 1% in the nation on the LSAT). Our alumni have gone on to become Harvard Law students and Hollywood actors, Supreme Court defenders and Buzzfeed editors. All of our graduates know that no matter where they end up, they forever have a home on the Hill.

WKU Forensics also realizes the importance of giving back to the community through outreach initiatives. Our coaches and students have assisted high school and junior high teams in need of coaching support, provided scholarships for students in need of financial assistance, hosted large non-profit junior and senior high school tournaments, provided an annual non-profit summer camp for students across the nation, worked with local inner city schools on campus beautification projects, hosted can drives, and have partnered with Bowling Green's Family Enrichment Center on their annual fund-raiser to end child abuse and neglect in the region. In addition to these efforts, this year the team volunteered with New Beginnings Therapeutic Riding, a nonprofit organization that uses the medium of horseback riding to improve the communication and social skills of children with disabilities. The WKU Forensics team believes in helping students of all ages achieve academic distinction, and in the importance of giving back to our community.

We thank you for taking the time to learn more about this life-changing activity and we encourage you to share it with anyone who'll listen! Please let me know if there are any questions about our program I can answer.

Sincerely,
Ganer