Stephen Decker of Whitewright, Texas, a legal studies major at East Central University, has been awarded ECU’s Adolph Linscheid Award as a member of the ECU speech and debate team who has distinguished himself through tournament competition.
The award is named after Dr. Adolph Linscheid, one of Oklahoma's most sought after speakers during the time he was ECU’s president from 1920 to 1949.
“While it is possible that no student will merit such distinction in a given year, for over 25 years no more than one student per year has received this singular honor,” said Dr. Robert Greenstreet, ECU professor of communication studies and forensics director.
Decker was a sophomore last February when he beat 14 other participants to win the After Dinner Speaking competition at the annual Oklahoma Intercollegiate Forensic Association Championship tournament. He also qualified for a prestigious national championship tournament.
No ECU student has won the award the maximum four times, but ECU President John Hargrave, Karen Piercy Morris and Renee Waters each received the Linscheid Award three times during their competitive speech careers.