It’s that time of year again! Autumn? Yes, but more importantly: it’s time to join Forensics!

Co-sponsor Mrs. Jess Hill describes Forensics as, “A competitive club where students interpret literature or write their own original piece and practice speaking skills, like gestures and annunciations and tone quality.”

“How do I join?” you ask.

Why not start by speaking to Mrs. Hill or fellow-sponsor Mrs. Jody Shugert? They are, after all, the ones who run the club.

How much time does Forensics require? Not much at all. Practice can be done on your own time. Remember, practice time with Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Shugert is always an option.

Scheduled practices are Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch, or Mondays after school until 3:30 p.m. in Rooms 209 and 210. (Passes are required if going to practices during lunch.)

The latest date that you can join Forensics is the beginning of November, but if you want to be involved in the first tournament October 27 at Upper St. Clair, you would have to join now.

Forensics competes in two other competitions: Quigley November 10 and another at North Catholic December 15.

Any middle or high school student can join—Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Shugert would love to have more high school students involved. Plus, there is no cost to participate in forensics because the school pays tournament entrance fees for students. The only cost would be paying for lunch while at a tournament.

Forensics participants can choose from ten different competitive events including three debate events: Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum, or Congress.

There are also seven speech events which include Duo Interpretation of Literature, Dramatic Interpretation of Literature, Humorous Interpretation of Literature, Poetry, Prose, Original Oratory, or Impromptu.

Isabella DiPietrantonio, a returning sophomore member of Forensics said, “I am deciding between Impromptu and Oratory.”

Bella is also excited to work with all of the new members joining this year as well as the chance to possibly participate in a new event.

Bella’s goal for this year’s team is, “That we all improve our speaking and performing abilities and that we each get better after every tournament.”

There is one thing that Mrs. Hill would like everyone to keep in mind: “[Forensics] is something a lot of schools have. It just feels like because our group is so small, I sometimes wonder if students don’t realize that this is a very well known [activity] in the state and country.”

Famous people like Josh Gad, Bruce Springsteen, and James Dean all competed on their high school forensics teams—and look at what they accomplished!

If you have any more questions see either Mrs. Hill in Room 210 or Mrs. Shugert in Room 209.