2025 The Arkansas Oak

• Setup:

  This status is used while the tournament is still being setup.

• Open:

  This status means tournament registration is open. Families can register for the tournament.

• Drops Only:

  This status means only registration drops are allowed. There are no new entries allowed but families can drop entries.

• Closed:

  This status means registration is currently closed for the tournament. There are no adds or drops allowed. Please contact the tournament director with any questions.

• Completed:

  This status means the tournament is completed.

Lincoln Douglas Novice Debate

The Arkansas Oak is pleased to be able to offer a novice track for beginning Lincoln Douglas debaters. This is an excellent opportunity for newer debaters to "get their feet wet" alongside their peers without the fear they sometimes experience about hitting more experienced debaters in the LD category. If you have a student who would just like the opportunity to give debate a try this season, this is the perfect event. LD Novice Debate will have awards at the Awards Ceremony, but the event is not NITOC qualifying.

Social Event!

You are welcome to join us even if you do not participate in Parli day on Wednesday! Come and hang out with our Stoa family!

Come join us for an evening at Mt. Sequoyah, a favorite local spot less than 5 minutes from our tournament venue! 

Meal includes your choice of chicken or bean/rice burrito, chips and queso, and a drink.

Registration for this event has been added to our meals page. 

Other Important Info:

Arkansas Oak

Script Submission

All senior competitors with prepared speeches must complete the script submission process. 

There is no script submission for junior speech events.

Important Dates and Deadlines
Script Submission Opens: March 10, 2025, at 10:00 am 
Early Script Deadline: March 23, 2025, at 11:59 pm
Script Submission Deadline: March 27, 2025, at 11:59 pm
Corrections Deadline: March 31, 2025, at 11:59 pm

Early Script Submission Prize Drawing: We will be offering a prize drawing for every script submitted before 11:59pm on March 23rd.  Each script gives 1 entry into the drawing.

All scripts must be submitted by March 27th to avoid being dropped from that event. You will receive a confirmation email once your script has been received and again once it is approved. 

Script Submission Corrections:  March 31st, 2025 at 11:59 pm.  If your script needs corrections, it must be corrected and submitted no later than this date.  

How to Submit Scripts Electronically: 

1. Follow the rules for your speech event.
2. Follow the script submission guidelines and forms. 
3. Watch this short video.
4. Combine each speech into a single PDF file. (Recommended: Use a PDF phone scanner app)
5. Name the file correctly: Last Name, First Name - event.pdf
6. SUBMIT SCRIPTS HERE
7. Correct or Celebrate: If your script is returned for corrections, complete any requirements in a timely manner and resubmit. Otherwise, it is time to celebrate your approval!

Resources

Rapid Review & Approve (tutorial for competitors)

Publication Guidelines 2024-2025

Speech Citations Help Page 2024-2025

Stoa Plagiarism Policy 2024-2025

Interpretation Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025

Platform Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025

Slam Poetry Script Submission Guidelines 2024-2025

For questions regarding script submission, please contact: electronicscriptsubmission@gmail.com

The Arkansas Oak

Meals and Snacks

Parent Meals:

All parents will need to purchase meals if they would like to enjoy the tournament-provided food, even if they are judging multiple rounds. 

Only community judges and full-time staff may eat free of charge.

Parents have 2 options if they would like to eat tournament-provided meals:

3-day meal pass that includes Thursday through Saturday meals. This is 3 lunches and 3 dinners as well as miscellaneous snacks and drinks throughout the tournament. Cost is $45

OR

4-day meal that that includes Wednesday through Saturday meals. This is 4 lunches and 3 dinners as well as miscellaneous snacks and drinks. Cost is $50. Please NOTE: Wednesday dinner is not included, and will be a separate cost due to the optional social event. 

Student Meals:

Students are welcome to order the meals that will be provided during the tournament. These meals should be ordered during the registration process. Meal descriptions can be found under the Meals tab on this website. 

Adding Meals After Registration Closes:

Meals can be added through your registration until April 3rd. Refunds on parent and student meals will be offered until April 3rd. No refunds on meals will be offered after this date due to the commitments we will be making to our vendors concerning quantity. Processing fees will not be refunded. 

Bringing Your Own Food:

No crock pots or other cooking devices are allowed in the facility. Families are welcome to bring coolers as needed. Please note that families will not have access to the kitchen facilities (refrigerator, microwave, etc) during the tournament. 

Food Nearby:

There is a grocery store directly across the street from our facility called The Co-op. It's also known as Ozark Natural Foods. They have a hot bar that includes soup, salad, and some hot sandwiches. They also have breakfast burritos on the hot bar in the morning. In their deli section, they offer some cold prepared foods as well, including pasta salads, prepared proteins, and sushi. YOU MUST USE THE CROSSWALK AT THE LIGHT TO GET TO THE CO-OP! DO NOT CROSS THE STREET FROM THE CHURCH!

There is a Papa John's Pizza 2 blocks away, and some food places down Dickson Street, though getting in and out of those is difficult due to street parking only. 

The Arkansas Oak - Online Postings

Online Postings will be available during the tournament!