LAKELAND, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2006) — The Florida Southern College Forensic Society will host the first “Child of the Sun” Invitational forensic tournament on Oct. 6 and 7, bringing in competitors from regional colleges and universities.

Participants will compete in up to 11 events in three broad categories of Limited Preparation, Public Address, and Dramatic Interpretation. Currently, more than 60 students from eight or more colleges are expected to compete.

“The college has been very accommodating in helping the team set up this competition,” said Dr. Chris Fenner, director of forensics. “We are hoping to keep things running smoothly so our guests can really enjoy themselves and our campus, and we are working to make this an annual event.”

The team received a generous grant from local businessman C.C. “Doc” Dockery to provide funding for the 2006 through 2009 competitive seasons. “Doc Dockery has been a great friend and supporter of the communication department,” said Dr. Vicki Wuertz, chair of the department. “We are so appreciative of his interest in our program.  This funding will allow our forensic team to travel and compete at the national level alongside larger institutions.”

The tournament will take place in several facilities on the Florida Southern College campus. Registration and visitor information will be located in the Honeyman Pavillion, and the first round of competition begins at 3:30 on Friday.

For more information about the “Child of the Sun” Invitational or the Florida Southern Forensic Society contact Chris Fenner at cfenner@flsouthern.edu.

About Florida Southern College
Founded in 1885, Florida Southern College is a private, comprehensive, United Methodist college with a liberal arts core. The college maintains its commitment to academic excellence through 38 undergraduate majors and distinctive graduate programs in business administration, education, and nursing. Florida Southern has a 13:1 student/faculty ratio, provides strong student/faculty mentorship programs, boasts 25 NCAA Division II national championships, and is ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top ten Southern Comprehensive Colleges-Bachelor’s institutions and by the Princeton Review as a “Best Southeastern College.” Located on scenic Lake Hollingsworth, Florida Southern is the home of the world’s largest single-site collection of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture.