April 23, 2025
Evan Garrison, of Webb City, is a member of Mississippi State’s Debate Team, which won the national college debate championship for the second consecutive year. The MSU Debate Team claimed top honors at the April 2025 International Public Debate Association National Tournament held at Lee College in Baytown, Texas.
Garrison, a sophomore aerospace engineering major, is being recognized for outstanding personal achievements and team contributions, including national tournament recognition for seventh-place speaker in the varsity division, quarterfinalist (with Ben Harvey) in team debate and Top 32 in the varsity division. Garrison’s season-long individual recognition includes sixth place overall in the varsity division.
Garrison, a 2023 graduate of Webb City High School, is the son of Catherine and Doug Garrison.
The International Public Debate Association is the largest intercollegiate debating association in the U.S., with more than 200 colleges and universities from across the country competing in IPDA tournaments in 2024-25. IPDA debating emphasizes a mix of logic, rhetorical skill and adaptability, as students debate a new topic each round and have only 30 minutes to prepare.
Over four days of competition, the MSU team squared off against hundreds of top competitors from programs across the country, including the University of Arkansas, Boise State University, UC-San Diego, the University of Tennessee, Texas Christian University, Union University, Dallas Baptist University and Abilene Christian University.
The squad won five individual IPDA national championships, advanced 17 debaters to elimination rounds, and placed numerous members in the top 10 in their respective divisions. For the season, MSU took first overall at eight of the 10 tournaments it entered and was also named IPDA’s Season Long National Champion, uniting the national tournament and regular season titles for the first time.
The MSU Debate Team was founded 10 years ago as part of the university’s Speech and Debate Council, coached by Brett Harvey and Jake Reed.
Joplin Little Theatre announces that ticket sales have begun for its the next production, “Absurd Person Singular,” by Alan Ayckbourn.
“Absurd Person Singular” is a laugh-out-loud comedy and satirical look at how three couples deal with their relationships, social standings and the pressures of three successive holiday gatherings.
Cast:
The production will be at 7:30 p.m. May 14 – 17 and 2:30 p.m. May 18.
Ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and students. They can be purchased by calling (417) 623-3638 or online.
ADK Upsilon met on April 15, 2025, at Central United Methodist Church in Webb City. Hostesses were Penny Hoenshell, Annette Elam and Cathy Eichelberger.
Annette Elam led the meeting with 14 members present.
Guest speakers were Trina Davis and CeCe Brown from Loving Grace. Donations of supplies and money were collected for Loving Grace.
Next meeting will be on May 20 at Central United Methodist Church. Hostesses will be Janis Jackson and Dorothy Pierson.
The Webb City Sentinel isn’t a newspaper – but it used to be, serving Webb City, Missouri, in print from 1879-2020. This “newspaper” seeks to carry on that tradition as a nonprofit corporation.
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