Forensics
"The PHC team really fosters a sense of camaraderie and team spirit. I have been struck by how kind, encouraging, and fun each coach and member of the team is. In the end, the debaters and coaches all seem to honestly desire to live a God-honoring life. They want to impact the culture through strong communication and a Christ-like nature.”
– Ian Reid, Debater
Debate goes beyond writing a paper or taking an exam because it both motivates students to exceed the bare minimum knowledge needed for an assignment and it builds the ability to articulate and defend a position against repeated attacks. As a result, many debaters seek beyond knowledge, to application.
Thus, debate educates alongside the classroom, engaging students in a deeper understanding of taught concepts. Every class, from logic and rhetoric to constitutional law, literature, and foreign policy, finds a use in our team’s speeches and arguments.
Because of its rigorous and effective approach to education, forensics at PHC are not extra-curricular but co-curricular, a fully-recognized and vital element of PHC Academics.
National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) |
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PHC has competed in tournaments from California to Pennsylvania and has gained national attention by competing with traditional debate powers such as Cedarville, Notre Dame and Point Loma Nazarene. PHC is currently ranked #37 out of 280 schools. |
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National Forensics Association (NFA) |
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NFA is a Lincoln-Douglas-style debate and speech league formed by over 100 colleges and universities. PHC's NFA squad has already established a firm presence, "breaking" and claiming top-ten speaker awards and team rankings at every tournament. |
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American Collegiate Moot Court Assocation (AMCA) |
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Coached by Dr. Mike Farris, PHC's moot court team has long enjoyed elite status among undergraduate universities and colleges. At the 2008 ACMA National Tournament, PHC teams swept second, third and fourth place, claiming six of the top eight team awards. |
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American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) |
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In Mock Trial, competitors play the roles of their characters, whether witness, attorney, or defense counsel, and often use accents and drama to render appropriate effect. This type of competition is more theatrical than most other public speaking arenas. |
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National Model United Nations (NMUN) |
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PHC’s NMUN club participates in the NMUN conference in New York City every year. In 2009, PHC earned the Outstanding Delegation in NYC, making PHC one of only 18 schools of over 300 participating internationally to receive this highest honor. |
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As of 2008-2009, debaters can now receive academic credit for participation in PHC Forensics, with the exception of NMUN.
