JACKSON, Tenn. — June 2, 2017 — Nearly 600 home-school students from 28 states are participating in debates, speeches and other competitions on the 51社区 campus this week as Union hosts the Stoa National Invitational Tournament of Champions.
Stoa is a national Christian home-school speech and debate organization for students in grades 7 through 12, and NITOC is its largest event each year. MelRae Ambs, a member of the Stoa board and director of the tournament, said Stoa鈥檚 motto is 鈥淪peaking boldly and changing the world for Christ.鈥�
鈥淲e are about equipping Christian home-schooled students to be able to go into the world and make an impact,鈥� Ambs said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also equipping them to think through, to do their research, investigate their sources and to be winsome and persuasive speakers so that they can share eternal truths.鈥�
NITOC includes 16 different events, and most students participate in several. Ambs said the students begin preparation for the tournament a year in advance. They are coached on how to write a speech, how to interpret literature, how to research for debates, how to speak persuasively and how to think logically and critically.
Leah Busler, a high school junior from Phoenix, Arizona, is participating in seven events at the tournament. She said being part of Stoa has helped her grow as a person and as a communicator.
鈥淚 was a really, really shy kid, and this has really opened me up,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e grown deep relationships with the people around me.鈥�
Busler said even though NITOC is a competition, it is a friendly and positive competition with the goal of growing every student who participates.
鈥淭he judges are rooting for you, the other competitors are rooting for you, and you鈥檒l never find someone who鈥檚 rooting for you more than the person who took second to your first,鈥� Busler said.
Ambs said Union has been an ideal fit to host the tournament. Students and their families have stayed in campus housing, and more than 400 people from the Jackson community have volunteered as judges for debate competitions.
鈥淭he goals of Union and the environment that they are creating here align so well with our goals,鈥� Ambs said. 鈥淯nion is not just claiming to be a Christian campus, they are demonstrating that in everything they have done for us.鈥�
NITOC began May 29 and will continue through June 3.