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UT Tyler Finishes Debate Season Among Best in Nation, Continues Tradition of Excellence

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April 21, 2015

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

April 21, 2015

The University of Texas at Tyler continues its tradition of excellence in parliamentary debate. UT Tyler student debaters are once again among the best nationwide, Dr. Martin Slann, College of Arts and Sciences dean, announced.

UT Tyler sophomores Samuel Cook of Flint and Steven Hullum of Tyler placed second in the nation after participating in the 2015 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, hosted by William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo.

The national rankings are from a field of more than 250 collegiate debate teams, and UT Tyler outperformed in-state rivals Texas Tech University, Abilene Christian University and Rice University as well as the University of California – Berkeley, San Diego State University, University of Oregon and University of Utah, among others.

“As a sophomore-sophomore team losing in finals to the most successful parliamentary debate team from Southern Illinois University, that’s pretty incredible. We’re probably going to be in a very good position for next year,” said UT Tyler director of forensics and assistant professor Matthew Gayetsky, who came to UT Tyler last August.

In addition, senior Dallas Flick of Aubrey and junior Carver Hodgkiss of Paris also were finalists and ended the tournament ranked in the top 30 nationwide. Cook also rounded out the tournament finishing eighth out of 136 participants in the “Top Speaker” category. Flick was previously named one of nine National Parliamentary Debate Association’s Academic All-Americans as well.

Other UT Tyler debate team members are junior Dakota Hiltzman of Gilmer and senior Lewis Sharp of Canton.

UT Tyler is a member of the National Parliamentary Debate Association.

For more information, contact Gayetsky, 903.565.5627 or mgayetsky@uttyler.edu.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 8,000 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.

UT Tyler Among Best in Debate: UT Tyler sophomores Samuel Cook of Flint (standing) and Steven Hullum of Tyler placed second in the nation after participating in the 2015 National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence. UT Tyler outperformed in-state rivals Texas Tech University, Abilene Christian University and Rice University as well as the University of California – Berkeley, San Diego State University, University of Oregon and University of Utah, among others.