February 9, 2026
The Tallahassee State College (TSC) Speech and Debate team delivered a standout performance this past weekend at Las Positas College in Livermore, California, at the 18th Annual Talk Hawk Tournament, winning the Individual Team Sweepstakes title in the Limited Entry Division.
At the tournament, every TSC team member earned an award, placing in seven of the tournament’s 11 individual events.
Leading the charge was Lillyana Humphreys, who won first place in After-Dinner Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking, while also claiming third place in Informative Speaking and Impromptu Speaking.
Natalie Gordon and Samuel King won first place in Duo Interpretation. Gordon also secured second place in Program Oral Interpretation and third place for Overall Individual Speaker.
Additional TSC finalists included Grace Hartman, who placed seventh in Informative Speaking and sixth in Duo Interpretation alongside Olivia Shull. Shull earned sixth place in Dramatic Interpretation.
Jack Hopkins rounded out the team’s success by earning fifth place in Impromptu Speaking and sixth in Informative Speaking.
“The team this year is one of the hardest-working and tenacious teams ever,” said John Schultz, the faculty advisor for the Speech and Debate team. “They are always up for the challenge. I believe if you want to be a champion, you need both talent and a great work ethic. These students have both, and I predict they will win both state and junior college regional championships.”
This victory marks the team’s sixth first-place finish of the season.
Next, the team will compete at the Florida College System Activities Association State Championship, where TSC has claimed the state title 24 of the past 26 years.