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National Forensic Association American intercollegiate organization
The National Forensic Association (NFA) is an American intercollegiate organization designed to promote excellence in individual events and debate. Founded in 1971, the NFA National Tournament is dedicated to a full range of literature interpretation, public address, limited preparation, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. The NFA sponsors the NFA National Tournament on an annual basis. The 2025 NFA National Tournament will be hosted by Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.
Lincoln Douglas Debate
NFA is unique in its NFA-LD Policy format. High school debate is primarily divided into individual debaters engaged in values-oriented competition or teams of debaters in rapid-paced evidence-based policy analysis. Instead of choosing one of these formats, NFA offers evidence-based policy analysis in one-on-one competition.
At the beginning of each year a topic area and corresponding resolution is voted upon and subject to the entire season's debate. Each round competitors find themselves assigned to affirm or negate the resolution. Rather than affirm general ideas or values, affirmative competitors propose a particular policy to adopt as a representation of the resolution. Negative competitors will generally attempt to either demonstrate a lack of need for that policy or argue that said policy's disadvantages outweigh its benefits.
The first affirmative and negative speeches are constructive speeches, intended to put forth the arguments which will comprise the issues in dispute. A cross-examination period of three minutes follows each of these speeches in order to clarify arguments and gain information relevant to each competitor's position. Each competitor is then given a six-minute rebuttal in which their responses and development of the arguments are finalized. At the end of the round, the affirmative is given one final three-minute speech to review why their plan ought to be passed in support of the resolution. An assigned judge will then cast a ballot to affirm or negate the resolution.[1]
Past LD Debate Resolutions
| Year |
Resolution
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| 1990-1991 |
(Exact resolution not available; it was on Supreme Court justice tenure)
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| 1991-1992 |
Unknown
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| 1992-1993 |
Resolved: That the terms of federal legislators should be limited to a specific duration.
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| 1993-1994 |
Resolved: That the USFG should significantly alter laws for immigration into the US.
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| 1994-1995 |
Resolved: That the FG should significantly reform the US public welfare system.
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| 1995-1996 |
Resolved: That participation in one or more of the six principal bodies of the United Nations should be significantly restricted by altering the U.N. charter and/or rules of procedure.
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| 1996-1997 |
Resolved: that the U.S. Department of Education should require the implementation of more rigorous methods of teacher and/or student performance evaluation in secondary school systems.
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| 1997-1998 |
Resolved: that the United States federal government should significantly change its foreign policy toward Taiwan.
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| 1998-1999 |
Resolved: that the US Federal Government should significantly increase its regulation of electronically mediated communication.
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| 1999-2000 |
Resolved: that the United States federal government should increase restrictions on the development, use, and/or sale of genetically modified organisms.
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| 2000-2001 |
Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly increase restrictions on civil lawsuits.
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| 2001-2002 |
Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should significantly alter its policy for combating international terrorism.
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| 2002-2003 |
Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should significantly increase assistance to United States residents living below the poverty line.
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| 2003-2004 |
Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should substantially increase environmental regulations on industrial pollution.
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| 2004-2005 |
Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should significantly reform the criminal justice system.
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| 2005-2006 |
Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should adopt a policy to increase the protection of human rights in one or more of the following nations: Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines, and/or Pakistan.
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| 2006-2007 |
Resolved: that the United States Federal Government should adopt a policy to significantly increase the production of energy from renewable sources.
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| 2007-2008 |
Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially increase assistance to the Greater Horn of Africa in one of the following areas: economic development, human rights protection, or public health.
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| 2008-2009 |
Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially increase its constructive engagement with Cuba.
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| 2009-2010 |
Resolved: That the United States Federal Government should substantially reform domestic transportation infrastructure.
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| 2010-2011 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially reform the provision of mental health services to the chronically mentally ill.
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| 2011-2012 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially change its trade policy and/or practices with the People’s Republic of China.
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| 2012-2013 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially increase assistance for organic and/or sustainable agriculture in the United States.
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| 2013-2014 |
Resolved: The USFG should substantially reform elementary and/or secondary education in the U.S.
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| 2014-2015 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should increase its development of the Earth's moon in one or more of the following areas: energy, minerals, and/or water.
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| 2015-2016 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially increase restrictions on bioprospecting.
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| 2016-2017 |
Resolved: the United States Federal Government should substantially reduce the role of the United States Southern Command in Latin America.
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| 2017-2018 |
Resolved: the United States federal government should substantially increase the regulation of state and/or local police misconduct in the United States.
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| 2018-2019 |
Resolved: the United States federal government should substantially increase actions by United States Cyber Command to prevent complex catastrophe and/or protect critical infrastructure.
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| 2019-2020 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement an energy policy that substantially increases investments in one or more of the following domestic energy sectors: nuclear, hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, solar.
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| 2020-2021 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should implement immigration reform that removes substantial statutory restrictions on legal immigration into the United States.
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| 2021-2022 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially curtail its counterterrorism operations in one or more of the following areas: statutory authorization for use of military force, air and/or drone strikes, combat and/or 127e programs.
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| 2022-2023 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase restrictions on political campaigns for public office in one or more of the following areas: political communication, campaign spending, interest groups.
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| 2023-2024 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially reduce the number and/or role of its nuclear weapons.
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| 2024-2025 |
Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase prohibitions on the development and/or use of artificial intelligence in one or more of the following areas: law enforcement, automation, and/or privacy.
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Previous National Tournaments
List of Speech Sweepstakes Champions
| Year |
Pentathlon Champion |
Team Sweepstakes
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| 1971 |
Robert Reider, Ohio University |
Ohio University
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| 1972 |
Jim Molnar, Ohio University |
Ball State University
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| 1973 |
Jim Molnar, Ohio University |
Eastern Michigan University
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| 1974 |
Bobbi Rowe, Stetson University |
Ohio University (2)
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| 1975 |
Bobbi Rowe, Stetson University |
Ohio University (3)
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| 1976 |
Irene Ziegler, Stetson University |
Eastern Michigan University (2)
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| 1977 |
Michael Garcia, Eastern Michigan University |
Eastern Michigan University (3)
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| 1978 |
William Allen Young, University of Southern California |
Eastern Michigan University (4)
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| 1979 |
George Denger, Eastern Michigan University |
Eastern Michigan University (5)
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| 1980 |
Jon Capecci, Eastern Michigan University |
Eastern Michigan University (6)
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| 1981 |
Jon Capecci, Eastern Michigan University |
Eastern Michigan University (7)
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| 1982 |
Theresa McElwee, Eastern Michigan University |
Bradley University
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| 1983 |
Mike Jones, Eastern Michigan University |
Bradley University (2)
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| 1984 |
Brad Johansen, Bradley University |
Bradley University (3)
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| 1985 |
John Broer, Miami University |
Bradley University (4)
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| 1986 |
Greg Dolph, Bradley University |
Eastern Michigan University (8)
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| 1987 |
Laura Duncan, Eastern Michigan University |
Eastern Michigan University (9)
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| 1988 |
Brenda Dempsey, Eastern Michigan University |
Bradley University (5)
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| 1989 |
Cam Jones, Cornell University |
Bradley University (6)
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| 1990 |
Stephanie Kaplan, University of Wisconsin-Madison |
Bradley University (7)
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| 1991 |
Karon Bowers, Bradley University |
Bradley University (8)
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| 1992 |
Ronnie Stewart, Bradley University |
Bradley University (9)
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| 1993 |
Jason Berke, Illinois State University |
Bradley University (10)
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| 1994 |
Andy Wood, Berry College |
Bradley University (11)
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| 1995 |
Jason Berke, Illinois State University |
Illinois State University
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| 1996 |
August Benassi, Bradley University |
Bradley University (12)
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| 1997 |
Chris Grove, Illinois State University |
Bradley University (13)
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| 1998 |
Grant Ward, Illinois State University
Brendan Kelly, Eastern Michigan University |
Bradley University (14)
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| 1999 |
Brian Davis, Arizona State University |
Illinois State University (2)
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| 2000 |
Dan Hungerman, Miami University |
Illinois State University (3)
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| 2001 |
Steve Zammit, Cornell University |
Bradley University (15)
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| 2002 |
Eric Long, Bradley University |
Bradley University (16)
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| 2003 |
Meredith Schnug, Miami University |
Western Kentucky University
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| 2004 |
John Coleman, Berry College |
Western Kentucky University (2)
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| 2005 |
A.J. Moorehead, Arizona State University |
Bradley University (17)
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| 2006 |
Paul Davis, Arizona State University |
Western Kentucky University (3)
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| 2007 |
Kashif Powell, Morehouse College |
Western Kentucky University (4)
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| 2008 |
Jessy Ohl, Kansas State University |
Western Kentucky University (5)
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| 2009 |
Joele Denis, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (6)
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| 2010 |
Dan Glaser, Ohio University |
Western Kentucky University (7)
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| 2011 |
Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University |
Western Kentucky University (8)
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| 2012 |
Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University |
Bradley University (18)
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| 2013 |
Kaybee Brown, Bradley University |
Bradley University (19)
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| 2014 |
Andrew Neylon, Ball State University |
Western Kentucky University (9)
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| 2015 |
Jerome Gregory, Bradley University |
Western Kentucky University (10)
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| 2016 |
Farrah Bara, University of Texas at Austin |
Western Kentucky University (11)
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| 2017 |
Jerome Gregory, Bradley University |
Western Kentucky University (12)
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| 2018 |
Abigail Onwunali, University of Texas at Austin |
Western Kentucky University (13)
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| 2019 |
Andrea Ambam, Western Kentucky University |
Bradley University (20)
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| 2021 |
Derek Collins, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (14)
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| 2022 |
Fernando Cereceres, University of Texas at Austin |
Western Kentucky University (15)
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| 2023 |
Doniven Hill-Bush, Illinois State University |
Western Kentucky University (16)
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| 2024 |
Fernando Cereceres, University of Texas at Austin |
Western Kentucky University (17)
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 tournament was canceled, resulting in no sweepstakes winners. However, the NFA permitted competitors in their senior year to submit recordings of their speeches for an asynchronous competition. The top performing student in each category was ranked as the Performance of Highest Distinction. Finalists in each category were not publicly ranked but were announced as Performances of Distinction.[2] The Pentathlon award was replaced with the Performer of Highest Distinction award, which Saeed Malami won from Lafayette College.[3]
List of Lincoln-Douglas Debate Champions
| Year |
National Champion |
Team Sweepstakes
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| 1991 |
Kevin Minch, Wayne State University
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| 1992 |
Cindy Weisenbeck, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire |
Ohio University
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| 1993 |
Robert Mattingly, Western Kentucky University |
Suffolk University
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| 1994 |
Paul Higday, University of Pennsylvania |
Ohio State University
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| 1995 |
Mary Cunningham, Suffolk University |
Western Kentucky University
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| 1996 |
Robert Mattingly, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (2)
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| 1997 |
Scott Smith, Ohio State University |
Colorado State University
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| 1998 |
Mike McDonner, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (3)
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| 1999 |
Mike McDonner, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (4)
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| 2000 |
Sean Williams, Central Missouri State |
Central Missouri State University
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| 2001 |
Colleen Karpinsky, Saint Anselm College |
Missouri Southern State University
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| 2002 |
Lindsay Marquardt, University of Pennsylvania |
Creighton University
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| 2003 |
Jeremy Hollingshead, Missouri Southern State University |
Creighton University (2)
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| 2004 |
John Henderson, Creighton University |
Western Kentucky University (5)
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| 2005 |
Nick Dudley, University of Missouri |
Western Kentucky University (6)
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| 2006 |
Nick Dudley, University of Missouri |
Western Kentucky University (7)
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| 2007 |
Mike Storey, Creighton University |
Western Kentucky University (8)
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| 2008 |
Spencer Harris, Drury University |
Western Kentucky University (9)
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| 2009 |
Mike Storey, Creighton University |
Western Kentucky University (10)
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| 2010 |
Kaleb Jessee, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (11)
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| 2011 |
Sarah Spiker, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (12)
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| 2012 |
Alison Stickland, Drury University |
Truman State University
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| 2013 |
Susan Taylor, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (13)
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| 2014 |
Spencer Orlowski, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (14)
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| 2015 |
Nefertiti Dukes, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (15)
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| 2016 |
Alex Glanzman, Kansas City Kansas Community College |
Western Kentucky University (16)
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| 2017 |
John Sahlman & Mark Allseits, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (17)
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| 2018 |
Colten White, University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
Western Kentucky University (18)
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| 2019 |
Anthony Survance, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (19)
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| 2021 |
Andre Swai, Western Kentucky University |
Western Kentucky University (20)
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| 2022 |
Alex Webb, Lewis and Clark College |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
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| 2023 |
Nick Wallenburg, University of Nebraska-Lincoln |
University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2)
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| 2024 |
Cade Blenden, Washburn University |
Washburn University
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No team sweepstakes champion was crowned during the 2020 National Championship Tournament. However, The 2020 Performance of Highest Distinction in Lincoln-Douglas Debate was Alex Rivera from Western Kentucky University.
Members of the NFA Hall of Fame
| Induction Class |
Era |
Name |
College/University
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| April 2000 |
1971-1975 |
David Beal |
Ohio University
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| April 2000 |
1971-1975 |
Greg Denaro |
Southern Connecticut State University
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| April 2000 |
1971-1975 |
Jim Molnar |
Ohio University
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| April 2000 |
1971-1975 |
Judy Sturgis Hill |
Eastern Michigan University
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| April 2000 |
1971-1975 |
Danny Vice |
Eastern Michigan University
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| April 2000 |
1976-1980 |
Jon Capecci |
Eastern Michigan University
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| April 2000 |
1976-1980 |
Michael Garcia |
Eastern Michigan University
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| April 2000 |
1976-1980 |
Theresa McElwee |
Eastern Michigan University
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| April 2000 |
1976-1980 |
Donald Smith |
Southern Connecticut State University
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| April 2000 |
1976-1980 |
Elighie Wilson |
Ball State University
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| April 2000 |
1981-1985 |
Marco Benassi |
Bradley University
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| April 2000 |
1981-1985 |
Greg Dolph |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1981-1985 |
Sam Marcosson |
Bradley University
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| April 2000 |
1986-1990 |
David Bickford |
Brown University
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| April 2000 |
1986-1990 |
Sarah Braun |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1986-1990 |
Cam Jones |
Cornell University
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| April 2000 |
1986-1990 |
Stephanie Kaplan |
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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| April 2000 |
1986-1990 |
Kim Roe |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2000 |
1991-1995 |
Jason Berke |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2000 |
1991-1995 |
Karon Bowers |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1991-1995 |
George LaMaster |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1991-1995 |
Kevin Minch |
Wayne State University
|
| April 2000 |
1991-1995 |
Patrick O'Shaughnessy |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1996-2000 |
August Benassi |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1996-2000 |
Brian Davis |
Arizona State University
|
| April 2000 |
1996-2000 |
Matt MacDonald |
Bradley University
|
| April 2000 |
1996-2000 |
Jill Valentine |
Bradley University
|
| April 2001 |
1976-1980 |
William Allen Young |
University of Southern California
|
| April 2001 |
1976-1980 |
Nancy Cartwright |
Ohio University
|
| April 2001 |
1976-1980 |
Mark Hickman |
Marshall University
|
| April 2001 |
1986-1990 |
Celeste Devore-Matheson |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2001 |
1991-1995 |
Mona Dworzak |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2001 |
1991-1995 |
Stacy Nekula |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2001 |
1996-2000 |
Chris Grove |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2001 |
1996-2000 |
Ben Lohman |
Bradley University
|
| April 2002 |
1971-1975 |
Keith Semmel |
Mansfield State College
|
| April 2002 |
1971-1975 |
Paul Van Dyne |
Penn State University
|
| April 2002 |
1976-1980 |
Christina Collier Reynolds |
Bowling Green State University/Ohio University
|
| April 2002 |
1981-1985 |
J.G. Harrington |
Rutgers University
|
| April 2002 |
1986-1990 |
Penny Geurink-O'Connor |
University of Northern Iowa
|
| April 2002 |
1986-1990 |
Joel Schwartzberg |
Emerson College
|
| April 2002 |
1991-1995 |
Andrew Billings |
Indiana University
|
| April 2002 |
1991-1995 |
Adam Black |
Western Kentucky University
|
| April 2002 |
1991-1995 |
Michael Malloy |
Saint Joseph's University
|
| April 2002 |
1991-1995 |
Andy Wood |
St. Petersburg College/Berry College
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| April 2002 |
1996-2000 |
Brendan Kelly |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2002 |
1996-2000 |
David Lindrum |
Berry College
|
| April 2002 |
1996-2000 |
Robert Pieranunzi |
Indiana University
|
| April 2003 |
1976-1980 |
Kenda Creasey Dean |
Miami University
|
| April 2003 |
1986-1990 |
Liesel Reinhart |
University of Colorado Boulder
|
| April 2006 |
1976-1980 |
Ray Quiel |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2006 |
1981-1985 |
Mitchell "Bucky" Fay |
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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| April 2006 |
1986-1990 |
Ken Klawitter |
Bradley University
|
| April 2006 |
1991-1995 |
Rita Rahoi |
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
|
| April 2008 |
1981-1985 |
Tom Doyle |
Bradley University
|
| April 2008 |
1996-2000 |
Jason Davidson |
Bradley University
|
| April 2008 |
1996-2000 |
Sarah Meinen Jedd |
Bradley University
|
| April 2009 |
1996-2000 |
Jaime Riewerts |
Bradley University
|
| April 2009 |
2001-2005 |
John Coleman |
Berry College
|
| April 2009 |
2001-2005 |
Aaron Unseth |
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
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| April 2010 |
1976-1980 |
Meg Langford |
George Mason University
|
| April 2010 |
2001-2005 |
Rob Barnhart |
Ohio University
|
| April 2010 |
2001-2005 |
Erin Gallagher Barnhart |
Ohio University
|
| April 2010 |
2001-2005 |
Bryan McCann |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2011 |
1981-1985 |
Andrew Heaton |
Bradley University
|
| April 2011 |
1986-1990 |
Jeff "Shappy" Seaholtz |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2011 |
1986-1990 |
Tom Zeidler-Adamson |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2011 |
1996-2000 |
Will Koch |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2011 |
2001-2005 |
Shannon Maney |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2011 |
2001-2005 |
Robb Telfer |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2012 |
1996-2000 |
Justin Zabor |
Ohio University
|
| April 2013 |
2001-2005 |
Matthew Collie |
Minnesota State University-Mankato
|
| April 2013 |
2001-2005 |
Eric Long |
Bradley University
|
| April 2014 |
1991-1995 |
Jeff Archibald |
Cornell University
|
| April 2014 |
1996-2000 |
Kelly (Lloyd) Adriani |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2014 |
1996-2000 |
Ryan Hershberger |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2014 |
2001-2005 |
Nina Brennan |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2014 |
2001-2005 |
Amber (Neuenschwander) Price |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2014 |
2006-2010 |
Robert Cannon |
Glendale Community College (California)
|
| April 2016 |
1991-1995 |
Amy Darnell |
Morehead State University
|
| April 2016 |
1996-2000 |
Richard Besel |
North Central College
|
| April 2016 |
1996-2000 |
John Boyer |
Otterbein College
|
| April 2016 |
1996-2000 |
Shane Mecham |
Truman State University
|
| April 2016 |
2001-2005 |
A.J. Moorehead |
Arizona State University
|
| April 2017 |
1996-2000 |
Jim Dobson |
Northern Arizona University
|
| April 2017 |
1996-2000 |
Heidi Sulzman |
Arizona State University
|
| April 2017 |
2006-2010 |
Angela Dunk |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2017 |
2006-2010 |
Annie Kincade |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2018 |
1996-2000 |
Nelsan Ellis |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2018 |
2006-2010 |
Carrie Guggenmos |
Western Kentucky University
|
| April 2019 |
1996-2000 |
Marianne LeGreco |
Bradley University
|
| April 2019 |
2011-2015 |
Maureen Brothman |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2019 |
2011-2015 |
Ryan Cashman |
Illinois State University
|
| April 2020 |
1971-1975 |
Simone “Skip” Kincaid |
Glenville State College
|
| April 2020 |
2001-2005 |
Alison Fisher Bodkin |
Bradley University
|
| April 2020 |
2006-2010 |
Dillon White |
Northwestern University
|
| April 2021 |
2001-2005 |
Ben Jedd |
Bradley University
|
| April 2021 |
2001-2005 |
Vance Pierce |
Bradley University
|
| April 2021 |
2001-2005 |
Tomeka Robinson |
McNeese State University
|
| April 2023 |
2001-2005 |
Robert Imbody |
Ohio University
|
| April 2023 |
2001-2005 |
Paul Porter |
Ball State University
|
| April 2023 |
2001-2005 |
Meredith Smith |
Miami University
|
| April 2023 |
2006-2010 |
Richard Brophy |
Eastern Michigan University
|
| April 2023 |
2006-2010 |
Stan Polit |
Northwestern University
|
| April 2024 |
2011-2015 |
Jacoby Cochran |
Bradley University
|
| April 2024 |
2016-2020 |
Mernine Ameris |
George Mason University
|
| April 2024 |
2016-2020 |
Kevin Mardirosian |
Wayne State University
|
External links
References
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