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Our History of Excellence

Concordia University Irvine Forensics

Since its founding in 2007, Concordia’s forensics team has become the premier full-service forensics team in the western United States. Our full-service forensics squad consistently places in the top 10 rankings nationwide in speech and debate events. Our talented coaching staff ensures you will receive one-on-one attention while thriving among your peers. While we love winning trophies, we are most concerned with teaching our students to become wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens after graduation.

Forensics Scholarships

We offer scholarships for participation up to $8,000 annually based on need and merit. Fill out the application prior to the March 1st, 2021 deadline for priority consideration.

Scholarship Application

What Students are Saying

Coaching Staff

Concordia University Irvine is exceedingly proud of the men and women who comprise the coaching staff. Each week, these men and women give countless hours to students. Here is a little bit more about them.

Konrad Hack

Konrad Hack

Director of Forensics

[email protected]

Sean Nowlan

Sean Nowlan

Director of Debate

[email protected]

Blake Longfellow

Blake Longfellow

Director of Individual Events

[email protected]

Danielle Schum

Danielle Schum

Individual Events Coach

[email protected]

View Full Bios

Events Offered

  • After Dinner Speaking
  • Communication Analysis
  • Drama Interpretation
  • Dramatic Duo
  • Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Impromptu Speaking
  • International Public Debate
  • Informative Speaking
  • Lincoln Douglas Debate
  • National Parliamentary Debate
  • Persuasive Speaking
  • Poetry Interpretation
  • Program Oral Interpretation
  • Prose Interpretation

Our Individual Events Program

According to a growing body of research, public speaking and communication skills are essential for career success. Our individual events program teaches students to overcome their fears of public speaking, while honing competition and research skills that will last a lifetime. We have placed 1st over 156 times, advanced at national tournaments over 72 times, and advanced at tournaments over 1,716 times in the history of our program. For the past 3 years, our program has ranked in the top 10 individual events programs in the country.

Our Debate Program

The political landscape in the United States changes quickly. Our debate program empowers students to stay informed and up-to-date on the current political climate with critical thinking skills and award-winning research techniques. Concordia University Irvine Debate holds two national sweepstakes championships from the National Parliamentary Debate Association, and the National Round Robin 2018 Top Speaker title. Our program is the only team in the country to place students in the top 8 nationwide five years in a row.

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National Titles Held

2nd Place

2nd Place

2023 National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI) Championship

2nd Place

2nd Place

2022 National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI) Championship

1st Place

1st Place

2021 National Christian College Forensics Invitational (NCCFI) Championship
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1st Place

1st Place

2019 Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Spring Championships

3rd Place

2019 Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Spring Championships
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3rd Place

2021 National Forensics Association (NFA) Championship
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7th Place

2019 National Forensics Association

3rd Place

2023 National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) Sweepstakes

2nd Place

2nd Place

2019 National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) Sweepstakes
Read Story »

2nd Place

2nd Place

2017 NPDA Sweepstakes

2nd Place

2nd Place

2016 NPDA Championship
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1st Place

1st Place

2015 NPDA Sweepstakes Championship
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2nd Place

2nd Place

2014 NPDA Sweepstakes
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1st Place

1st Place

2013 NPDA Sweepstakes Championship
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6th Place

2019 National Speech Championship

4th Place

2017 National Speech Championship

1st Place

1st Place

2018 National Round Robin Top Speaker
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9th Place

2017 American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament

Where Are They Now?

Concordia University Irvine Forensics offers students a rigorous and competitive speech and debate program that teaches them top tier research and public speaking skills. These skills prepare them for law school, graduate school, professorships, and professional employment at prestigious universities and top-rated businesses across the country, as seen in the sampling of examples below.

Alumni Attending Law School

  • Baylor University School of Law
  • Duke University School of Law
  • Notre Dame University School of Law
  • The Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University
  • University of California Los Angeles School of Law
  • University of San Francisco of Law

Alumni Attending Graduate School

  • Arizona State University
  • Baylor University College of Medicine
  • CSU-Fullerton
  • Louisville University
  • New York University
  • Pepperdine University School of Business
  • University of California Irvine
  • University of Chicago
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Texas at Austin
  • Wayne State University

Alumni at Work

  • 10th Circuit United States Court of Appeals
  • Attorney Advisor to the Special IG for Pandemic Recovery, U.S. Department of the Treasury
  • Deputy Associate Counsel to the President, The White House
  • Director of Debate, Lewis and Clark College
  • Director of Debate, Grand Canyon University
  • Director of Forensics, Schreiner University
  • Executive Director, Club Parli
  • Law Clerk, Pearce Lewis, LLP
  • Logistics, Development & Policy Analysis, Daylight Transportation
  • Petty Officer, United States Navy
  • Policy Analyst, America First Policy Institute
  • Policy Analyst, Cafe Con Leche Republicans
  • President and Founder, The Helmsmen Institute
  • Professor, Moorpark College
  • Professor, Glendale Community College
  • Research Policy Intern, Niskanen Center
  • Senior Analyst, Cadmus Group
  • Senior Legislative Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives
  • Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, U.S. Department of Justice
  • Quantitative Analyst, RAND Corporation
  • Research Analyst, Santa Barbara Asset Management
  • Research Assistant: Islamist Watch, Middle East Forum

Get in Touch

Our Forensics team is like a close-knit family on campus, and we'd love for you to join it. Please contact our Director of Forensics for more information.

Konrad Hack
Director of Forensics
[email protected]

Tell us what clubs you're interested in, and our ASCUI Club Commissioner will connect you with the right people.

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