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The Standard

OGDEN -- For the first time in almost 20 years, a student from Utah took first place in the nation's most prestigious speech and debate competition.

Jane Bruce, a recent Ogden High School graduate, won the dramatic interpretation event in Birmingham, Ala., at last week's National Forensics League competition.

"That day was so incredible, just waiting all day to get up on that stage," Bruce said. "It was the most amazing thing I've ever experienced, especially playing an icon like Judy Garland."

Bruce's 10-minute piece from the play "The Property Known as Garland," was something she spent hours researching to get just right.

"I felt so connected to her," she said of the famous actress and singer.

Bruce later discovered the final round of competition was held on the 40th anniversary of Garland's death.

Dramatic interpretation has been a way to be involved with debate while improving her acting skills, Bruce said.

"My goal was just to make it to the final round," she said. "It's nice to be in that position where you can touch a lot of people."

Bruce presented her piece 13 times in four days, ending each one by singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

In addition to the first-place award and $6,000 in scholarships she received, Bruce was recognized as one of the few students in the nation who had been invited to the national competition for all four years of high school.

Bruce was the first student from Utah to take first in dramatic interpretation since 1931, but she wasn't the only Utah student who did well at the competition.

Anthony Mitchell, an incoming senior at Davis High School, beat out hundreds of other competitors to be one of 24 selected for the final round.

Throughout the competition, a dozen or more students were put in a room together and were expected to present and debate legislation in the same way the United States Congress would, while being judged on their speaking skills.

No scripts or notes were allowed.

Mitchell said his favorite piece of legislation dealt with lifting the trade embargo on Cuba.

Motivation to keep up on current events and awareness of the importance of becoming politically active weren't the only things Mitchell said he gained from the competition.

"I learned that networking with people is a really powerful force and whether you like it or not, it's one of the things you have to do to live," he said. "Everybody has to talk sometime in their life, so you might as well practice."

Local coaches say it's an unusual accomplishment for Bruce and Mitchell to make it so far in the competition, because speech and debate teams are poorly funded in Utah, compared to many other states.

"I don't think people really understand the magnitude of this," said Ogden High School coach Matthew Madsen of Bruce's win.

Speech and debate programs are important because of the lifelong skills students gain, coaches say.

"They learn how to think on their feet. Speaking is such an important thing -- it's something you're going to have to do in any career that you choose," said Davis High School coach LeeAnn Hyer.

"I've found they can come up with a well-thought-out argument or response quicker than other people because of their training."

Mitchell said he plans to continue competing in speech and debate. Bruce has been admitted into the musical theater program at the University of Michigan next year.