Command and conquer

The East Texas Baptist University Debate Team 
traveled to the Oregon State 
University speech and debate tournament February 23 
and 24 and came away with 
many top awards. Fifteen different universities, primarily 
from Oregon, Washington, 
and Idaho, participated in the 
weekend event.
Dakota Hiltzman and 
Heather DeVille won first 
and second place respectively in the Novice Extemporaneous Speaking competition. 
Neither had ever competed in 
the event at a collegiate tournament. The duo bested the 
other 37 students entered in 
the event to come away with 
the two top spots.Tania Albuja compiled a 
4-1 preliminary record in the 
debate competition and advanced to elimination rounds. 
She won her first elimination 
round and finished the competition as a Silver Medalist. 
Albuja also was the fourth 
place Novice speaker out of 
55 Novice debaters.
DeVille compiled a perfect 5-0 record in preliminary 
rounds in the 75-competitor Varsity Division. She 
too won her first elimination 
round and advanced to the 
Gold Medal Round where 
she won, claiming a top prize 
in the debate competition. 
DeVille was named the winner on 10 of 11 ballots cast in 
rounds in which she competed for the competition.
Other ETBU debaters 
competing in the weekend 
events included Hiltzman 
and Ryan Stokes. Stokes finished the tournament with a 
3-2 record and just missed 
qualifying for the elimination 
rounds.
“I could not be prouder 
of this group,” said Dr. Cole 
Franklin, coach of the ETBU 
squad. “They came into a 
very unfamiliar environment, 
competing against opponents 
they had never faced before, 
and won the top awards in 
debate and individual events 
competitions. They represented the university very 
well and earned the respect 
of students and faculty of the 
universities represented at 
the tournament. They served 
as outstanding delegates for 
ETBU.”
The ETBU Debate 
Team compete next at a special two-tournament swing 
event hosted by Lee College 
and Stephen F. Austin State 
University March 8-10. The 
event will take place on the 
SFA campus. For more information on the ETBU Debate 
Team contact Cole Franklin 
at 903-923-2288 903-923-
2288 FREE or email cfranklin@etbu.edu.
 




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