From Athens to Athens: A strong debate for how traveling abroad can provide life-changing learning experiences

While many Ohio University students left Athens for spring break, 14 members of the Ohio University Speech and Debate team traveled from one Athens to another, trading Appalachia for the Acropolis as they competed in the 35th International Forensics Association Tournament in Athens, Greece.

From March 5–12, the team traveled overseas not only to compete against programs from across the globe, but also to experience a new culture, develop new skills and make memories that will last a lifetime. The team placed seventh overall and brought home a national champion title in after-dinner speaking. However, the lasting impact wasn’t the trophies, but the experience of traveling alongside their friends.

“Traveling abroad provides a different kind of education,” Jennifer Talbert, director of the Speech and Debate team, said. “It’s not just about competing internationally, it’s about navigating new environments, experiencing different cultures and learning in ways that stay with you long after the trip.”

For many students, it was their first time leaving the United States.

“Getting the opportunity to travel with the Speech and Debate Team was life changing,” Julia Weller, a freshman from Circleville, Ohio, majoring in Hotels, Restaurant and Tourism, said. “Experiencing traveling outside of the country for the first time along with my friends was exhilarating. While it seemed daunting at first, the Speech and Debate Team staff prepared us so well.”

For Talbert, the trip marked the culmination of months of planning, persistence and community support.

“We had hoped to attend an international tournament before COVID, but that opportunity was canceled,” Talbert said. “This year, we made it a priority to try again but only if we could do it in a way that was accessible for every student.”

Through a combination of experiential learning funding and generous alumni contributions, including a $10,000 gift, the program was able to fully fund the trip for every student. Travel, lodging, competition fees and daily expenses were covered, ensuring that every student could participate.

“It was important to us that this opportunity was equitable and truly available to everyone on the team who has worked so hard to be there,” Talbert added.

That commitment ensured that students like junior Savanah Stachler, an Honors Tutorial College English major from Orient, Ohio, could take part in an experience she never imagined possible.

“It was an incredible experience,” Stachler, who was a quarterfinalist in Debate, said. “I never thought I'd get to experience anything like this, let alone with my friends! There were a few people on the team who had traveled to Europe before too, so it was nice having people to ask my stupid questions to and knowing they wouldn’t judge me for them.”

Stachler, who joined Speech and Debate because of her interest in public speaking and her goal of attending law school, quickly found a sense of belonging on the team. She noted that she tends to gravitate toward limited preparation events, such as debate, extemporaneous speaking and impromptu, but also enjoys interpreting literature through interpretive events.

In Greece, she competed in debate, impromptu speaking and dramatic interpretation, but her favorite moment wasn’t during the competition. Instead, it was experiencing the beauty of the country alongside her friends.

“The entire experience was wonderful and historically rich, but I think my favorite memory was sitting on the boat playing cards with the team in between the islands. I could see the ocean and the rocky shoreline behind us, and it was all so beautiful. I remember feeling so lucky that I got to enjoy a moment like this,” she explained.

Those moments were exactly what Talbert hoped the trip would provide.

After arriving in Greece, students explored iconic sites like the Acropolis and Parthenon, walked through local markets and neighborhoods and split into groups to visit nearby islands, including Hydra. Along the way, they learned to adapt to unfamiliar environments.

“Students navigated public transportation, encountered language barriers and engaged with different cultural norms, all of which contributed to their learning,” Talbert said.

For Weller, that learning was both personal and professional.

“This trip allowed me to grow both personally and professionally,” Weller said. “Personally, I have become more mature after this trip. This was my first trip where I was responsible for keeping track of my documents, checking into my flights and buying Euros. No one in my immediate family has traveled out of the country, so I had to take responsibility to learn what I needed to do.”

The experience also shaped her career aspirations.

“Professionally, I saw a different side of the hospitality industry. I was impressed with how employees in not only hotels, but stores went above and beyond to serve patrons. Always starting up small talk and making customers feel welcome. This inspired me and is a level of service that I will strive to reach in the industry,” Weller added.

Even within the competition, students were pushed in new ways, engaging with peers from around the world and adapting to different communication styles.

“I talked to all kinds of people with very different styles of communication, and I think that kind of experience is incredibly valuable,” Stachler said. “To bring positive contributions to the world, you have to be able to convey ‘I’m approaching you with good intentions and I want to learn from you' in a bunch of different subtle ways, from tone to body language, and talking to people from all over (the world) is, I think, the only real way to gain those skills.”

The tournament itself was unlike most others the team attends - a hotel-based competition bringing together students from across the globe, including programs from the United States they don’t typically face.

Joining Weller and Stachler in Athens were Chloe Watts, Jay Maffitt, Audrey Adkins, Chloe Daniel and Kristi Kotowski, along with several OHIO students who took top places during the competition. These included sophomore Silas Graser, who took home the title of International Champion in After Dinner Speaking (ADS); Lexi Taylor, who placed second in Dramatic Interpretation (DI); and Emily Osborne, who, alongside Taylor, earned sixth place in Duo Interpretation (Duo).

Other top finishers included Taryn Adamczyk, who placed third in Persuasion; Emma Steiner, who placed fifth in Impromptu Speaking and Special Event – Greek Landmarks; Samantha Fanger, who was a semifinalist in Impromptu; and Maddy Purcell, who placed sixth and was a Top Speaker in Debate.

In addition to Talbert, coaches Nolan Bowers, Jack Cross and School of Communication Studies Chair Dr. Ann Frymier all helped guide and support the team throughout the trip.

That support extended well beyond the trip itself, with the newly established Forensics Team Student Support Fund, helping ensure future students have access to similar opportunities.

For Talbert, that collective investment from alumni, donors, faculty and the University was just as meaningful as the experience itself.

“Seeing our students experience these moments, whether on the Acropolis or exploring the Greek islands, was incredible,” Talbert said. “But just as meaningful was knowing how many people believed in this vision and helped make it possible. Not every program has that level of support, and it made all the difference for our students.”

Though the trip to Athens was driven by competition, not just its shared name, the experience truly highlighted that learning happens far beyond classrooms and competitions – it happens through cultures, connections and the people who bring it to life. 

The trip was made possible in part by support from the Scripps College of Communication, with additional contributions from Dean Scott Titsworth.