[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 61 (Thursday, April 17, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E642]]
RECOGNIZING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY DEBATE 
                                  TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JERRY F. COSTELLO

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 17, 2008

  Mr. COSTELLO. Madam Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge the 
outstanding accomplishments of the debate team at Southern Illinois 
University in Carbondale, Illinois. Directed by Dr. Todd Graham, the 
team of Kevin Calderwood, a junior in political science from 
Chesterfield, MO, and Kyle Dennis, a senior in economics from Blue 
Springs, MO, won the national championship in the 54-team National 
Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence.
  It is important to note that this was a very select competition. A 
team must qualify for the national championship tournament by doing 
well throughout the year. While only 54 teams competed, more than 300 
attempted to qualify.
  The debate program also entered teams in the National Parliamentary 
Debate Association tournament. That tournament is held at the end of 
March at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO, 
and includes over 250 universities and colleges. Among the 500 debaters 
competing, Kevin won the top spot in the individual awards, solidifying 
his position as one of the best debaters in the country. Kyle took home 
third place overall in the individual awards.
  In addition, the team of Katie Thomas, from Fort Collins, CO, and 
Adam Testerman, from Springfield, MO, won fifth place as a team 
overall. Also participating in the debate program was Nicholas Deml of 
La Crosse, WI. Graduate students Benjamin Haas, from Poplar Bluff, MO, 
and Brian Norcross from San Diego, CA, assisted Dr. Graham with team 
preparation.
  Not surprisingly, the debate program's successes throughout the 
season resulted in a great deal of recognition from peers at other 
universities. Ryan Lawrence, a debater from the University of 
California at Berkeley and the top debater last year, commented to Dr. 
Graham that he would still hold his head high if beaten by Southern 
Illinois because he and his teammates considered it ``the smartest, 
hardest-working and best debate team in the country.''
  Madam Speaker, Southern Illinois University has a proud tradition in 
teaching, research and public service. It is widely recognized that 
graduates who are well prepared become leaders in their fields. I urge 
my colleagues to join me in congratulating the debate team, faculty and 
students at Southern Illinois University for their continuing 
commitment to excellence.

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