DIRECTOR
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ANDREW EILOLA is the new Assistant Director of Forensics at GMU and could not be more excited about it! Originally from Minnesota, Andrew has been involved with forensics since 2004. He received BAs in sociology and communication from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He has a master’s degree in health communication from George Mason University and is currently finishing his PhD in health communication. In competition, Andrew was a national finalist in persuasive speaking and had success in a variety of other events. Since arriving at Mason in 2012 as a graduate assistant, he’s had the privilege of coaching 9 national finalists, including a national champion in persuasion. Andrew has a passion for teaching and the educational value forensics has to offer to all who are a part of it. He is grateful to have found such a welcoming and positive environment at GMU and hopes to continue the legacy that started long before him.
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COACHES
The job of a coach is to teach students to see vitality in themselves"
JON TYREE di & INFO coach JON TYREE is a former GMU competitor turned coach. After graduating in 2014, he took a year off from forensics, but is very excited to be returning to the team. When not coaching, you can find Jon working hard in Alexandria with the Association of Consulting Foresters or whipping up something crazy in the kitchen for his awesome roommate Genevieve! 
KARIN NORDIN pers & poi coach Karin is so excited to finally be coaching the George Mason team! After graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota in 2015, she headed down to Alabama and spend two years coaching the team there while attending graduate school. She received her M.A. in Communication Studies in May of 2017, and just a short month later moved to Virginia to join the Mason family. Karin is now coaching her all time favorite events: POI and Persuasion. |
DEION HAWKINS DUO & DI COACH DEION HAWKINS comes to George Mason from Indianapolis, Indiana. He is a first year doctoral student studying health communication with a concentration in interpersonal HIV communication. He completed his BA at The Ohio State University in 2012 where he was the Vice President and Debate Captain of Ohio State's student run forensics team. Additionally, he completed his MA at Marshall University. Deion is thrilled to be coaching ADS and Duo this year and is humbled by the opportunity to work with such an amazing program. 
GEORGE KUEPPERS ADS & POE COACH This is GEORGE KUEPPERS' third year on the team and first year in the Master of Arts Program in Communication. He graduated from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN in 2015 with a BA in Political Science and Global Studies He is from Spicer, Minnesota. He is coaching Informative Speaking and Poetry Interpretation. His favorite TV shows include Breaking Bad, House of Cards and Game of Thrones. He likes sports, music and current events. He is an avid dog lover and sarcasm is his first language. |
JOE DINEEN EXT & CA COACH JOSEPH DINEEN earned his Bachelor's degree in International Relations from Saint Joseph's University. While studying for his Master's degree in Political Science at George Mason University (which he received in 2014), he spent two years working with the team. After a very long year away, Joe found that he missed this--all of this--too much. He will be coaching Extemp and Communication Analysis this year, and he is immensely privileged to be working and learning here once more. 
MOLLY HOKE PRO & DUO coach MOLLY HOKE hails from the majestic hills of wild and wonderful West Virginia! After being with this family for 4 wonderful years, Molly is now continuing her academic journey as a second year M.A. student in the Women and Gender Studies program at GMU. In her free time you'll probably find her jamming out to The Beatles or watching a fantastic film. Wanna strike up a conversation? Comment on a good movie (Pulp Fiction is a good place to start). Molly is ecstatic to be coaching the events that make you laugh and cry: After Dinner Speaking and Dramatic Interpretation. 
XAVIER CLARK POE & POI COACH Xavier Clark comes to George Mason from Austin, Texas. He is a second year Masters of Public Administration student concentration on homeland security, emergency management, and biodefense. He completed his BA in Political Communication at The University of Texas at Austin in 2016 where he was the officer of Texas Speech Team and Coach. He is coaching Program Oral Interpretation and Poetry Interpretation. His favorite celebrities shows include: Beyonce, Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Blue Ivy. He loves fashion, slick shade, art, and church. |
STUDENTS
SENIORS
“I just wanna rap good and not sell breadsticks” - Milo
NAME: Jim Welty (Co-Captain)
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Phoniex, AZ FAVORITE EVENTS: EXT, DI Jim is incredibly excited for his senior year on the team and to be participating in a vast array of equally exciting events. He is also thrilled to spend another year in Virginia as his home state of Arizona has no water. |
"There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside of you."- Maya Angelou
NAME: Alekhya Tallapaka (Co-Captain)
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Global Affairs HOMETOWN: Rosemount, MN FAVORITE EVENTS: PERS, CA, INFO Alekhya is so excited to be at George Mason University for its 46th season! Originally from the frozen tundra (AKA Minnesota), Alekhya is majoring in Global Affairs while concentrating on International Development. While not doing speech, Alekhya can be found making tofu, reading novels about the Indian-American diaspora, and obsessively tweeting about Zayn Malik and Narendra Modi. She could not be more excited about the upcoming speech season with her wonderful family. |
"These pretzels are making me thirsty!"- Kramer
NAME: Meagan Ashner
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Communication HOMETOWN: Montgomery, AL FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, PERS Meagan Ashner is overjoyed to begin her final year on the GMU Forensics Team. She is a Communication major which seems pretty relevant. She comes from the Deep South of Alabama and enjoys sweet tea and anything else stereotypically Southern. She aspires to be famous one day and go by the name of Nicole Ashbourne. One word to describe Meagan: Jewish. |
 "My greatest pain in life is that I'll never be able to see myself perform live."-Kanye West
NAME: Natalia Castro (LP Captain)
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Jupiter, FL FAVORITE EVENTS: EXT Natalia is so excited to be part of the teams 47th season! Originally from the sunshine state, when Natalia isn't competing she can be found day dreaming that she is on a beach or trying to find unobtrusive ways to run into Marco Rubio on Capitol Hill. Her favorite things are Florida, ferrets, and food (but really only if that food is gluten free pizza. She also likes alliteration). |
"I think I'm gonna like it here."- Annie
NAME: Adelina Mitchell
YEAR: Senior MAJOR: Theatre HOMETOWN: Bronx, NY FAVORITE EVENTS: Duo & DI Adelina is a rising senior who soared from Tallahassee, Florida to be a part of the legacy! She is a Theatre major with a concentration in performance and hopes to jazz square (with jazz hands.. duh) her way onto Broadway one day. She enjoys half birthdays, hoop earrings, Jane The Virgin, and her big's butterscotch blondies more than most. Most importantly, her hair's so big because it's full of secrets. |
“Wubba Lubba Dub Dub” - Rick
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JUNIORS
"You said don't ever take advice. That was great advice"- Aubrey 'Drake' Graham
NAME: Mernine Ameris (Historian/Webmistress)
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Public Administration HOMETOWN: Planet Mars, NJ FAVORITE EVENTS: PRO, Duo, DI Mernine Ameris is a rising junior on the Maosn team. When she isn't doing speech, she loves and enjoys smoothies, the 1995 sleeper hit Clueless, competitive badminton, getting annoyed by Faizaan, and making this website. Her life goal is to star in a Legally Blonde remake, appropriately retitled "Legally Black" with Drake playing her love interest. 
"Florals? For spring?.....Groundbreaking."-Miranda Preistley
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"You must strive to find your own voice because the longer you wait to begin the less likely you are to find it at all."-
Robin Williams
NAME: John Henry
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: History HOMETOWN: Bensalem, PA FAVORITE EVENTS: PERS, IMP John Henry is a junior studying History and Legal Studies. He comes from Bensalem, PA where he competed for Holy Ghost Prep Forensics. He can't be more excited to compete in his third year in college with Mason! In addition to being an Eagle Scout, John loves Wawa, Philly cheesesteaks, and cracking open a cold one with the boys. NAME: Parker Roth (Alumni Liasion)
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Communication | Government & International Politics & Jazz Studies minor HOMETOWN: Maple Plain, MN FAVORITE EVENT: DI Parker is a life-size human person on the George Mason Forensics Team. The Mason family is his love and his life, and he couldn't be more excited for his third year on the circuit. He likes Zara, the saxophone, Jim Welty, almond butter, the Disney Channel Original Movie "Lemonade Mouth", his dog Jasper, and Mernine Ameris, the original snake. Catch him at the Norton smiling through the crushing weight of existentialist thought. GMU, You Know. |
NAME: Edward Kunkle
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Communication with a focus in Political Communication HOMETOWN: East Los Angeles, CA FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, POI, CA Edward is an incoming Junior who travelled all the way from California to join the family! (I don't know what else to put. I'll leave it to your discretion.) After almost 6 years of competition, Eddie cannot express how excited he is to join the Mason Family! 
"Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions." -the Dalai Lama
NAME: Erin Phillips
YEAR: Junior MAJOR: Integrative Studies | Social Innovation & Enterprise Concentration | Consciousness & Transformation Minor HOMETOWN: Chelmsford, MA FAVORITE EVENT: CA Erin is a rising junior at GMU from the great state of Massachusetts. In her spare time she's the treasurer of Mason's Planned Parenthood activism group, writes and performs her own poetry and is a passionate advocate for climate justice. She loves travel, cooking, yoga, and reading. She's very excited for all this season has to offer and can't wait to spend another year with her awesome teammates! |
SOPHOMORES
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"Stranger things have happened, so everything is possible."-Anonymous
NAME: Regan Copple (Historian)
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: Government & International Politics with a concentraion in Political Communication HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, PERS Regan Copple is a sophomore at Mason hailing from Des Moines, Iowa. l. She is majoring in government and international politics, and will probably minor in international security. Her ultimate dream is to live in Washington DC and work for a think tank (this might sound a little stereotypical for an extemper, but it's true). In her free time, she loves to travel and simply unwind with friends. She's excited for her upcoming season and can't wait to be part of such an amazing team! 
NAME: Chloe Zatorski (Tournament Director)
YEAR: Sophomore MAJOR: English HOMETOWN: Munster, IN FAVORITE EVENTS: Poe & Duo Chloe is a rising sophomore at George Mason who couldn’t be more humbled and excited to join the Legacy class of 2020. If she isn’t doing speech things, you might find Chloe re-reading Perks of Being a Wallflower for the 12th time or perhaps online shopping with money she doesn’t have. Also, food. Everyone loves food. Especially, Chloe. |
FRESHMEN
“Though she be little, she is fierce”- William Shakespeare
NAME: Kendyl Kowalski
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Psychology | Women & Gender Studies HOMETOWN: Morristown, TN FAVORITE EVENTS: POI, DI, PRO Kendyl is absolutely thrilled to officially be a Patriot! In the small amount of time that she isn’t obsessing over speech you could find her looking at pictures of puppies, watching the Addams family, belting musicals, or planing her halloween costume no matter the time of year. Kendyl is beyond excited to being the season with her new family and her fellow southern belle and Big, Meagan. #YouKnow 
NAME: Haleigh McGirt
(HS Outreach Co-Coordinator) YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Psychology | Women and Gender Studies Minor HOMETOWN: Jupiter, FL FAVORITE EVENTS: POE, POI Haleigh is unbelievably excited to start her first year with the Mason Forensics team! Sunny south Florida is where Haleigh once called home, but she says she wouldn’t trade experiencing actual seasons for the world. In what time she has outside of speech, Haleigh enjoys reading and writing poetry, painting, coloring, and meme-seeking and vine-sharing with Danny, among other forms of escapism. Haleigh cannot wait for the 47th season of the Legacy! 
NAME: Justin Pollard
MAJOR: Political Communication HOMETOWN: Midlothian, VA FAVORITE EVENT: DI Justin is a freshman at George Mason University studying Political Communication who hails from Midlothian, Virginia, located right outside of Richmond. When he's not working on speech, you can probably find him with his banjo somewhere or watching 80's movies. |
 "No I'm from Iowa, I only work in outer space"-Captain Kirk
NAME: Jacob Thompson
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Des Moines, IA FAVORITE EVENTS: CA, PERS, EXT, IMP JT is a freshmen here at mason studying government and conflict analysis. He is excited to continue competing in college and working to understand the world around him. Outside of speech, he enjoys sleeping, eating, rock climbing, sailing, and way too many activities. 
NAME: Sam Hamerski
MAJOR: Art HOMETOWN: Roseville, MN FAVORITE EVENT: DUO Sam is a freshman at George Mason University studying Art who hails from Roseville, Minnesota,the greatest state in the Midwest. When he's not working on speech, you can probably find him with his camera somewhere, doing close-up card tricks, hearing out of one ear, or playing frisbee like your classic college freshman. Sam loves speech and can't wait for his very first season with his new family. |
NAME: Jacob Corbin
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Global Affairs HOMETOWN: Madison, VA FAVORITE EVENTS: DI Jacob is an upcoming freshman on the George Mason University forensics team. Coming from a town that has more cows than people, Madison County, he is super thrilled to have a change of lifestyle. Jacob is currently studying Computer Science and might pick up Cybersecurity as a minor or double major. Outside of speech you can see Jacob beatboxing, coding, or binge watching something on Netflix. Jacob is super pumped to start his new journey with his amazing new family!! 
"May your neighbors respect you, trouble neglect you, angels protect you, and heaven accept you" - Drake
NAME: Neuteyshe Felizor
YEAR: Freshman MAJOR: Government & International Politics HOMETOWN: Broward, FL FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, PERS, POI Neuteyshe Felizor is a freshman on the team! When she is not doing speech you can find her breaking out in random dance or laughing obnoxiously at literally everything. She is in love with Mason Forensics! 
NAME: Tom Murabito
MAJOR: Changes everday HOMETOWN: Erie, PA FAVORITE EVENTS: ADS, DUO Tom comes from the Quaker state of Pennsylvania. He is so so so excited to be part of the GMU legacy and cannot wait to start competing with these amazing people. Tom loves his car Little Red and his big Jim. |