TOWNSEND ENJOYS SUCCESSFUL YEAR

What Nancy Townsend missed out on, Katie Townsend is gearing up to take advantage of.

"My mom always talked about how much fun communications class was in college and how she wished he would have done speech and debate," said Townsend, a Jackson High School junior. "So I decided to try it."

Townsend helped the young speech and debate squad enjoy a big year, bringing home 13 trophies and a medal for the year. She will extend her season this month, participating (along with Janine Love in poetry) at the state meet. She qualified as district champion in extemporaneous speaking.

"You go into a room with no idea what the topic will be," she explained. "You draw three topics and choose one of them. Then you have 30 minutes to research the topic and write a five-minute speech. Then you give the speech."

Extemporaneous speaking is Townsend's favorite category -- although she has also won trophies in original oratory and "Lincoln-Douglas Debate" competition

At the district meet Townsend made three extemporaneous speeches. Her first-round topic was Russia versus Chechnya. Her second-round subject was students' privacy rights. In the final round she spoke on gun control legislation.

The daughter of Jay and Nancy Townsend, she is also active in band. She served as a drum major during marching band season and plays trombone in the high school symphonic band. She also serves as secretary of the band.

Townsend is also active in the Cape Bible Chapel youth group and is quick to give credit for divine guidance.

"All praise and honor go to Jesus Christ," she said.

The young speech team enjoyed a big year this year, Townsend's second as an active participant.

"Considering we had a very young team, we did very well," she said. "We only had two returning members. The team as a who did great, considering how young it was."

Like most of the speech and debate team, she returns for another shot next year.

"I would like to take first in district in extemporaneous speaking again," she said, "and place in the top 10 in state. My goal would also be to make the top three in original oratory."

Townsend would like, not only to compete on the collegiate level, but to eventually coach speech and debate.

"I would like to be a college speech professor and coach a speech team at a college," she said. "I woudl really enjoy that."