The American Forensic Association National Speech Tournament (AFA-NST) is an intercollegiate, individual events-based forensics tournament held in conjunction with the first Saturday in April, beginning on the prior Friday and continuing through the subsequent Monday. In comparison to National Forensic Association Championship Tournament, another prominent college-level individual events national tournament, the AFA-NST has significantly more stringent qualification procedures and a smaller, but more exclusive field of competition. The AFA-NST represents the culmination of the forensics season for many collegiate speech teams.

The 2026 AFA-NST took place at Lewis and Clark College during April 3–6, 2026.

History

Formed in 1949, the American Forensic Association was created with the goal of teaching students to utilize the skills of argumentation and advocacy. In the first decades of its existence, the AFA was primarily focused on promoting debate competitions, with little to no interest in individual events.

As a result in the rapid rise of interest in individual events in the late 1960s, Dr. Seth Hawkins of Southern Connecticut State University, Dr. Raymond Beaty of Ohio University and Dr. Jack Howe of California State University, Long Beach began to propose ideas of an organized national tournament focused on individual events. Dr. Beaty reported that his proposals were disregarded by the debate community. During the 1970-71 forensics season, Dr. Hawkins made the decision that, despite the lack of support from the debate community, the increased interest in IEs (individual events) justified the establishment of a national championship tournament. This tournament was held on the campus of Ohio Northern University, 23 schools participated, and the annual IE tournament that would eventually become known as NFA Nationals was established.

Realizing that the NFA's new IE national tournament could perpetuate the already existing split within the community regarding the competitive validity of IEs, the AFA began working towards a solution in 1972. Jerry Anderson, the president of the AFA at the time, began calling meetings to address measures that could be taken to incorporate IEs into the AFA's agenda. Anderson proposed a change to the AFA's constitution to allow for the inclusion of IEs; this change was ratified in 1973. Anderson, along with E.R. Tame, the Chair of the Educational Policies Committee, proposed that the AFA enact institutional changes to accommodate IEs. In 1973, the AFA voted to establish the AFA Committee on Individual Events. In the three years following its establishment, the Committee worked towards developing an inceptive procedural standard for the AFA-NST. This effort was bolstered in 1976, as James Weaver assumed the presidency of the AFA. Weaver proved a staunch advocate of the NST's establishment. Within the first year of taking office, Weaver established the National Individual Events Tournament Committee, and appointed Larry Schnoor of Minnesota State University, Mankato as Chair. Shortly thereafter, Schnoor and the committee began making preparatory arrangements for the inaugural AFA-NST.

In April 1978 the inaugural AFA-NST was hosted by Illinois State University. 58 schools attended the 1978 AFA-NST. Eastern Michigan University won the team sweepstakes championship at the 1978 AFA-NST Meg Langford of George Mason University won the individual sweepstakes championship at the 1978 AFA-NST Six schools who attended the 1978 AFA-NST have never been absent from any subsequent AFA-NST through 2013: Bethel College (Kansas) Bradley University George Mason University Kansas State University Minnesota State University, Mankato University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire The tournament was known as the AFA-NIET (American Forensics Associational National Individual Events Tournament) prior to a name change in 2019.

Previous AFA-NSTs

List of sweepstakes champions

Team and individual sweepstakes awards are awarded to the best overall performing team and individual at each AFA-NST, respectively.

Team sweepstakes awards are given to the teams with the highest aggregate total of sweepstakes points earned by the team's individual competitors. At the AFA-NST, team sweepstakes points are awarded as follows: Preliminary rounds: .5 points for each 3rd place ballot, 1 points for each 2nd, 1.5 points for each 1st. (only the school's top 3 competitors in each event earn points for preliminary rounds) Out-rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, finals): 1 point for 6th place, 2 points for 5th place, 3 points for 4th place, 4 points for 3rd place, 5 points for 2nd place, 6 points for 1st place.

When tabulating individual sweepstakes, only the individual competitor's ranks and placings are used, and points awarded for preliminary ballot ranks are doubled. Otherwise, individual sweepstakes are tabulated identically to team sweepstakes.

Year Individual champion Team champion 1978 Meg Langford, George Mason University Eastern Michigan University 1979 Meg Langford, George Mason University George Mason University 1980 Kim Norris, Iowa State University Bradley University 1981 Sean Patrick O'Rourke, Humboldt State University Bradley University (2) 1982 Laura Gordon, Clarion University of Pennsylvania Bradley University (3) 1983 Patrick Page, Whitman College Bradley University (4) 1984 Patrick Page, Whitman College Bradley University (5) 1985 Greg Dolph, Bradley University Bradley University (6) 1986 Greg Dolph, Bradley University Bradley University (7) 1987 Tom Doyle, Bradley University Bradley University (8) 1988 Ken Klawitter, Bradley University Bradley University (9) 1989 Cam Jones, Cornell University Bradley University (10) 1990 Peter Tagg, Southern Utah University Bradley University (11) 1991 Karon Bowers, Bradley University Bradley University (12) 1992 Karon Bowers, Bradley University Bradley University (13) 1993 Tim Schultz, Kansas State University Bradley University (14) 1994 Tim Schultz, Kansas State University University of Texas at Austin 1995 August Benassi, Bradley University University of Texas at Austin (2) 1996 August Benassi, Bradley University Bradley University (15) 1997 Matthew Whitley, University of Texas at Austin Bradley University (16) 1998 Nance Riffe, George Mason University Bradley University (17) 1999 Rajni Shankar, George Mason University Bradley University (18) 2000 Chris McLemore, Kansas State University Bradley University (19) 2001 Steve Zammit, Cornell University University of Texas at Austin (3) 2002 Bonny McDonald, University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Austin (4) 2003 Zenobia Harris, West Texas A&M University Western Kentucky University 2004 Courtney Anderson, George Mason University Western Kentucky University (2) 2005 Ryan Hubbell, Arizona State University Illinois State University 2006 Natalie Sintek, Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (3) 2007 Lydia Nelson, Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (4) 2008 Jessy Ohl, Kansas State University Western Kentucky University (5) 2009 Merry Regan, University of Texas at Austin Western Kentucky University (6) 2010 Amanda Voirol, Bradley University Bradley University (20) 2011 Quincey Smith, George Mason University Western Kentucky University (7) 2012 Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University Bradley University (21) 2013 Jacoby Cochran, Bradley University Bradley University (22) 2014 Nick Gilyard, Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (8) 2015 Farrah Bara, University of Texas at Austin Western Kentucky University (9) 2016 Farrah Bara, University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Austin (5) 2017 Nathan Leys, George Mason University University of Texas at Austin (6) 2018 Andrea Ambam, Western Kentucky University University of Texas at Austin (7) 2019 Andrea Ambam, Western Kentucky University Western Kentucky University (10) 2021 Anna Kutbay, University of Alabama Western Kentucky University (11) 2022 Anna Kutbay, University of Alabama University of Texas at Austin (8) 2023 Terrence Mayfield, Illinois State University University of Texas at Austin (9) 2024 Fernando Cereceres, University of Texas at Austin University of Texas at Austin (10) 2025 Rodrigo Trujillo, Bradley University University of Texas at Austin (11) 2026 Aaron Anderson, Tennessee State University University of Texas at Austin (12)

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 tournament was cancelled, resulting in no sweepstakes winners.

Events

There are 11 events that are sanctioned by the AFA and held at the AFA-NIET. All events fall into one of three categories: Interpretation Public Address Limited Preparation

Interpretation events

There are five AFA-sponsored events which fall into the interpretation category. Interpretation events involve the performer selecting and cutting a script (usually from a play, book, or movie), and acting out the scenes. All AFA interpretation events require the performer to hold a 'black book' that contains their manuscript. This book can be used as the competitor sees fit, meaning it may be used as a prop, but the use of other objects as props is prohibited. All interpretation events have a 10-minute time limit.

Poetry interpretation

Poetry interpretation involves the performance of a selected cutting of poetry with significant literary merit. The performance may be one poem, or a combination of multiple pieces (often referred to as a 'program'). Play cuttings are prohibited from use. The focus of this performance should be on the development of language. Prose interpretation

Prose interpretation features the performance of a prose piece of significant literary merit. The performance may feature only one work, or it may be a program. Play cuttings and poetry pieces are prohibited from use. The focus of this performance should be on development of the narrative.

Drama interpretation

Under the AFA rules of Drama Interpretation, the performer is to create a cutting from either stage, screen, or radio with significant literary merit. The performance may feature only one play, or it may be a program. The performer may portray multiple characters. The focus of this performance should be on the development of characterization.

Program oral interpretation

Program oral interpretation is an event that is unique to the AFA-NST and is not sanctioned by NFA nationals. In POI, the performer is to create a program of selections linked by a common theme, and consisting of at least two of the different genres of forensics interpretation literature (prose, poetry, and drama), with the pieces being of significant literary merit. Each genre must be represented by a unique piece of literature; one piece may not represent multiple genres. One selection may be original. The focus of this event should be on the development of the theme through the established narrative.

Dramatic Duo

Dramatic Duo is the only AFA-sponsored event to feature two competitors in the performance. The performance may feature cuttings from any genre of literature; the cutting may be only one piece, or it may be a program. The selected cutting can be either humorous, serious, or a combination of the two. The performers are not allowed to directly look at each other or touch each other. The performers may each portray multiple characters if they so choose.

Public address events

There are four AFA-sponsored events that fall into the category of public address. Public address events involve the performance of an originally written speech covering a specific topic or issue. Audio and visual aids are permitted for use in all public address events. Performers are heavily encouraged to integrate multiple sources into their speech. All events in this category have a 10-minute time limit.

Persuasive speaking