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Ursuline Academy |
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Ursuline
Academy Mrs. Rosann
Whiting, President
Website By
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For the first time in Ursuline’s history, a student from Ursuline Academy’s Speech Club will go on to compete in the National Speech and Debate Tournament. Julie Griffin-Carty ’05, competing in the Humorous Interpretation category, scored second in the final round of the New England Forensics Competition which was held in March at Milton Academy. Julie was one of two students chosen to represent the New England District and compete in the Nationals in Philadelphia from June 12 to June 17, 2005. The Tournament will host 2,700 competitors from all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico and 1,500 coaches, school administrators, and parents. This year’s Ursuline Speech Team was led by President Julie Griffin-Carty and Vice-President Marie Solman ’05.The results its members have achieved are truly amazing and are due to the talent, dedication, self-motivation, and persistence of all the students. It is also due to the training and support they have received from Coach Sr. Barbara Reney and parent volunteer coaches Ms. Trisha Griffin-Carty, Mrs. Gail Cirillo, Mrs. Clare Solman, and Ms. Sheryl Strohl-Hammett have also been instrumental in the development of the team. They have been involved with speech over the last few years, attended many meets, and have judged at local, state, and qualifying meets. This year, five team members qualified as semi-finalists in the New England Forensics Competition at Milton Academy. This competition draws qualified participants from all over New England to compete to represent the area (and their schools) at the National Forensic Speech and Debate Tournament. Julie Griffin-Carty and Stephanie Orphan ’06 competed in the Humorous Interpretation Category, and Alessandra Hammett ’06, Marie Solman ’05, and Christine Judge ’05 competed in Dramatic Interpretation. All did a superb job of representing UA in the qualifying meets. Alessandra Hammett was one of eight out of approximately 25 who made it to the semi-final round. Julie Griffin-Carty scored second in the final round of six students. The Speech Team has worked diligently both individually and as a team to compete at the highest levels, and Ursuline has drawn the notice of tournament directors and other coaches as a team, “on the move.” The Ursuline Speech Team, though smaller in number than many speech clubs from area high schools, has been very strong since its inception and increasingly competitive in recent years. The team capped off a wonderful year with the qualification of seven team members for the State Tournament in April as well. Alessy Hammett was awarded second place in Prose, Julie Griffin-Carty earned fourth in Humorous Interpretation, and Marie Solman and Maddie Heanue both earned Honorable Mentions. Also qualifying for states were Stephanie Orphan in Children’s Literature, Dheera Reddy in Group Discussion, Catherine Levin in Novice Reading, and Liz Cirillo in Play Reading. Trisha Griffin-Carty commented on the benefits of Speech Team for all students. “Speech is about building self-confidence, about learning how to speak in public, get constructive feedback, and work to improve. Even though some of the girls did not get into final rounds this year, and it took years of work for some of the juniors and seniors to get into final rounds at a meet, they kept going. I am so amazed at their resiliency and their generous team spirit. If a girl doesn't make it to the final round of a meet, she is disappointed, but then immediately congratulates those who did. It is wonderful to see. It is important that students and parents realize that Speech is for everyone—the quiet student, the student who may not have participated in speech or drama prior to coming to Ursuline, as well as the natural speaker. I have so enjoyed my involvement with the team, as have all the parents who have dedicated many hours to supporting our girls. 2004-2005 Team Members
Seniors
Juniors
Sophomore
Grade 8
Grade 7 |
