The month of May holds many activities and milestones for students. School ends, seniors graduate and state competitions are held.

The state championship tournament for forensics was held on May 3 in Emporia. Senior Rachel Muirhead competed in prose and dramatic solo and senior Alex Green competed in foreign extemporaneous speaking and impromptu speaking. Senior Megan Zeman had qualified in poetry, but was unable to attend.

Green said this was his first time competing at state forensics.

“It was different stylistically,” Green said. “I was glad to have made it to state in my first year of forensics. I lacked energy and enthusiasm, so I don’t think my competitive nature had any effect on the competition.”

Green also said he would take the ability to give speeches and the public speaking skills he had learned from forensics into college and beyond.

Sponsor Zach Butte said Muirhead placed second in prose and Green placed 14^th in foreign extemporaneous.

“Rachel’s dramatic solo didn’t do very well in the first two rounds, but then placed third in the last round,” Butte said. “She did extremely well with prose. Alex’s impromptu also did not do well enough to advance into semifinals. He also had some weird draws. For example, for people, he drew Willie Nelson.”

In impromptu speaking, when one draws from people, it is usually more of a historical figure than a celebrity.

Butte said each school participating was required to bring an official judge.

“Bob Muirhead was our official judge,” Butte said. “It was good. It was a fun time.”