Honoring Dr. David Frank and Revitalizing Oregon Forensics

The Frank Tournament of Scholars and Alumni Dinner brought together generations of Oregon debaters for an evening of stories, gratitude, and renewal. Alumni reconnected with old friends, made new ones, and celebrated the extraordinary career of Dr. David Frank, whose leadership shaped both the program and the lives of countless students.

That year also marked a competitive high point. Liz Fetherston and Kehl Van Winkle, already known as the top seed and top speaker at nationals the year before, led a team that finished 4th in school sweepstakes at one national parliamentary debate tournament and 3rd at the prestigious, qualification-only NPTE. For the first time in five years, Oregon students also qualified for AFA-NIET national speech competition, while mock trial flourished with new energy.

The season also saw the return of a college debate tournament to campus with the inaugural David Frank Tournament of Scholars, drawing teams from across the nation and re-establishing Eugene as a hub of collegiate debate.

Looking ahead, Director Trond Jacobsen called on alumni to support the program’s three great needs: recruitment, competition, and infrastructure. He stressed the importance of scholarships to attract diverse and talented debaters, resources to keep pace with rising travel costs, and ultimately, the creation of an endowed chair for the Director of Forensics to secure the program’s permanence.

The night was more than a dinner — it was a declaration that Oregon Forensics’ future would be built on its history of innovation, excellence, and community.

February 28, 2015, UO Forensics Alumni Dinner

Attribution: University of Oregon Forensics, Alumni Dinner Announcement & Season Report, February 28, 2015.