Congratulations to the PIERCE Forensics team for winning third place at the Panhellenic Forensics Association Tournament 2014, held March 28-30, continuing the school’s tradition of Forensics success.

Seven PIERCE junior (gymnasium) and senior (lyceum) school students reached the final stage in their speaking events where they competed with students from 18 schools nationwide:

Eleana Strouthou (Original Oratory), Anna Soulele and Komninos John Plaous (Impromptu Speaking) – Plaus won first among equals – Alexander Al Akaila with Christina Kostopoulou (Comic Duet Acting), and Georgos Anagnostopoulos with Iro Biskini (Comic Duet Acting).

Honorary Distinctions also went to Giouli Tyligada (Dramatic Oral Interpretation) and Foteini Kitsiou with Amalia Papathanassi (Dramatic Duet).

The PIERCE Forensics Club was founded in the 1992-1993 school year. Since then, there has always been a team of Gymnasium and Lykeion students participating in the annual Panhellenic Forensics Association (PFA) Tournament, which takes place in Athens and Thessaloniki in alternating years.

Students from several schools compete in six speaking events: Debate, Group Discussion, Original Oratory, Impromptu Speaking, Oral Interpretation of Literature and Duet Acting. The goal of Forensics is to develop students’ self-confidence in public speaking. At the same time, students improve their general knowledge, research skills, appreciation of literature, as well as overall team spirit and good sportsmanship.

The PIERCE team prepares for the PFA Tournament with the assistance of dedicated English teachers and PIERCE alumni coaches and has won many awards and distinctions over the years.

PIERCE has hosted the PFA Tournament four times: in 1994, 1998, 2002 and more recently in 2012.

See a breakdown of awards won since PIERCE began to compete: (Sweepstakes Cups are awarded to the three schools with the most finalists in events other than Debate.)