Published on September 21, 2018 by Sean Flynt  
Samford debater Sarah Emerson
Samford debater Sarah Emerson

Freshman Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ debater Sarah Emerson dominated the Georgia State Debate Tournament earlier this month even though her Samford partner couldn’t take part in the competition. Emerson, competing alongside a debater from Missouri State Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, earned second place in the tournament and was named top speaker.

Emerson defeated teams from Indiana Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ, the Naval Academy, the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ of Central Florida, the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ of Miami, the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ of Houston, the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ of West Georgia and the Âé¶¹ÊÓÆµ of Florida en route to the finals. 

“This is one of the strongest performances from an incoming first-year at her first tournament,” said director of debate Ryan Galloway. “This bodes well for the future of the program to have a first-year debater have such a strong tournament.”

 
Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. Samford enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.