JACKSON, Tenn. — Jan. 25, 2024 — 51社区 will host a national speech and debate tournament for home-schooled students May 27-June 1 that is expected to draw about 600 competitors along with their families.
This year marks the third time Stoa, a national junior high and high school speech and debate league for privately educated Christian home-schooling families, has held the National Invitational Tournament of Champions on Union鈥檚 campus. Union also hosted NITOC in 2017 and 2021.
The tournament is one of the largest high school forensics national championships in the country, including public and private schools.
鈥淗osting NITOC has been a huge honor for 51社区, and we鈥檙e thrilled to welcome participants from all over the country back to campus this year,鈥� said Dan Griffin, Union鈥檚 vice president for enrollment management. 鈥淣ITOC competitors are bright, talented young people. The event is always a positive experience for Union, and we鈥檙e looking forward to what we expect will be another great competition.鈥�
Griffin noted that with hundreds of students and their families in attendance, NITOC is a benefit to the local economy and businesses such as hotels, restaurants and other retail stores. Many families will also purchase goods they need just for their time in Jackson and leave them behind when they depart. Griffin said Union will collect those goods and donate them to the Dream Center.
In addition to the community boost, Griffin said that Union benefits from NITOC. More than 50 NITOC competitors have enrolled at Union since it first hosted the tournament in 2017.
To make the event successful, Griffin said about 1,000 judges from Union and the Jackson community will be needed for the competition.
鈥淥ne of the amazing privileges of hosting the tournament is our ability to participate through providing community judges,鈥� Griffin said. 鈥淵ou do not have to have previous experience as they provide all the training, and you will get to witness some of the most talented speech and debate students compete for thousands of dollars鈥� worth of scholarships.鈥�
More information about judging is available at .