Speech and Drama Stage Comeback Ij)Iuring the past two years the · Academy's Department of Speech and Drama has been revitalized by sponsor Leigh Ellis. New activities include an organized speech team, participation in the Arkansas Student Congress of Human Relations , the reorganization of the Royal Academy Players, the Academy's Honorary drama society, and participation in Arkansas Model United Nations under the direction of Mrs. Marie Yingling. As in the past, the team's strength was centered in duet acting teams. Teams included Samantha Farrar and Jon Dugger, Jay Boyd and Cindy Smith, and Pat McGaha and Lisa Underwood. Stan King competed in Radio Broadcast, and John Treat competed in Extemperaneous Speaking. Several members of the team attended the Arkansas Speech Communications Association's Speech Day, an annual event that was held this year at Jacksonville's North East High School. After a fall semester of preparation, the team was fully prepared for spring competition, including the Spring festival held at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. This year's Arkansas Student Congress of Human Relations was held at the Old State House and the Camelot Hotel. Returning Academy delegates were Samantha Farrar, Lisa Underwood, Stan King and John Treat. Sponsor Leigh Ellis became acquainted with Student Congress while coaching at Central Arkansas Christian in Little Rock, and introduced it to the Academy upon her arrival in the 1983-1984 school year. This year's delegation proved to be the Academy's best ever. Treat became the first Academy student to chair a committee by chairing the House Judicial Affairs Commiftee. King and Laura Beth Henderson received recognition as authors of a "Best Bill" for their bill on the staffing critical care areas. In addition, King received excellent certificates for mini-floor sessions and committee work, and Treat received an excellent certificate For caucus work, a superior certificate for floor debate, and was ranked fourth on the parliamentary procedure test in the House of Representatives. The Royal Academy Players (RAP) is a by-invitation-only honorary drama society for Academy students. After several years of dormancy the group was rechartered this year by speech instructor Leigh Ellis. Students in teres ted in membership must keep a record of their speech and drama activities; when the required amount of points is acquired, the student submits his name to the body for consideration by a vote. 1985-1986 officers were Samantha Farrar, president; Kim Rowan, vice-president; Tara Buss, secretary-treasurer; and Jay Boyd, reporter and chaplain. The year's activities included work days for the Academy auditorium, a trip to Murray's Dinner Theater, and work on a stage production with plans to tour the DallasFort Worth area. New to the Academy this year was participation in the University of Central Arkansas' Model United Nations. Model United Nations is a faithful reproduction of the United Nations in New York. Each participating school is assigned a country to represent at the two day event on the University's campus in Conway. This year's delegation, after a slow start, made an impressive first showing representing the African nation of Kenya. Cherinet Temtemie served on the Special Legal Committee; Marco Canales served on the Legal Committee; Joanna Walker served on the Special Committee on the status of women. Treat served as the group's Head Delegate. The group was sponsored by Mrs. Marie Yingling and Miss Ruth Browning. 1Jn RAP. Front row : H . Ellis , lsom , Peacock, Buss , Boaz , L. Ellis - sponsor; second row: Rowan , Farrar, Wilson , Forbes , Romine , Dugger; back row: King , McGaha , Boyd, Tate , Treat. - photo by Val Durrington.
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