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PITTSBURG —
Kathleen Sanders has achieved her goal. The St. Mary’s Colgan High School senior has qualified to compete at the National Forensics League National Finals, to be held June 13-18 at Dallas, Texas.
“This is something I’ve been hoping to achieve the last four years,” she said. “I was fortunate to make it on my last try.”
Her category will be original oration, and her subject will be dogs.
“Basically, it covers what dogs have given to human civilization and the benefits of owning dogs,” Sanders said. “I show how interaction with dogs is beneficial and why it should be promoted. Statistics show that if you have a dog you will live long.”
The reasons include the fact that dogs help relieve stress in their owners and give them someone to talk to.
Sanders also mentions services dogs who assist those with visual and other disabilities and police dogs.
“A lot of scientific research has been done that indicates dogs are more like humans in a good many ways,” she said. “Dogs and humans are the only two species that comprehend gestures. Wolves don’t, and even chimps don’t.”
In one scientific experiment Sanders read about, two cups were placed with a treat under one of them, while the other was empty.
“When someone pointed to the cup with the treat, the dog went to that cup, but no other animals did,” Sanders said. “This ability shows in dogs at all ages. Even puppies respond to gestures. Evidently, dogs have evolved to connect to humans.”
She said that SMC forensics coach Alice Hilt suggested that, for her oration, she might look into something related to animals.
“I started with a really broad scope, then narrowed it down,” Sanders said.
She has a dog, Millie, a shih-tzu, and worked over the summer at the Town and Country Animal Hospital.
“It was a really good experience, but I don’t think a career in math and science is for me,” Sanders said. “Right now I’m thinking about communications, but that will probably change a couple of hundred times.”
She plans to attend Missouri State University, Springfield, as part of the Honors College.
The daughter of Robert and Ann Sanders, she lived in Seneca, Mo., for several years.
“Now we technically live in Asbury, but it feels like I live in Pittsburg because I go to school here,” Sanders said. “I was homeschooled for five years, then came to Colgan. I started forensics in my freshman year and I have never regretted it. I’ve been trying to get my sister to take it.”
Kathleen Sanders has achieved her goal. The St. Mary’s Colgan High School senior has qualified to compete at the National Forensics League National Finals, to be held June 13-18 at Dallas, Texas.
“This is something I’ve been hoping to achieve the last four years,” she said. “I was fortunate to make it on my last try.”
Her category will be original oration, and her subject will be dogs.
“Basically, it covers what dogs have given to human civilization and the benefits of owning dogs,” Sanders said. “I show how interaction with dogs is beneficial and why it should be promoted. Statistics show that if you have a dog you will live long.”
The reasons include the fact that dogs help relieve stress in their owners and give them someone to talk to.
Sanders also mentions services dogs who assist those with visual and other disabilities and police dogs.
“A lot of scientific research has been done that indicates dogs are more like humans in a good many ways,” she said. “Dogs and humans are the only two species that comprehend gestures. Wolves don’t, and even chimps don’t.”
In one scientific experiment Sanders read about, two cups were placed with a treat under one of them, while the other was empty.
“When someone pointed to the cup with the treat, the dog went to that cup, but no other animals did,” Sanders said. “This ability shows in dogs at all ages. Even puppies respond to gestures. Evidently, dogs have evolved to connect to humans.”
She said that SMC forensics coach Alice Hilt suggested that, for her oration, she might look into something related to animals.
“I started with a really broad scope, then narrowed it down,” Sanders said.
She has a dog, Millie, a shih-tzu, and worked over the summer at the Town and Country Animal Hospital.
“It was a really good experience, but I don’t think a career in math and science is for me,” Sanders said. “Right now I’m thinking about communications, but that will probably change a couple of hundred times.”
She plans to attend Missouri State University, Springfield, as part of the Honors College.
The daughter of Robert and Ann Sanders, she lived in Seneca, Mo., for several years.
“Now we technically live in Asbury, but it feels like I live in Pittsburg because I go to school here,” Sanders said. “I was homeschooled for five years, then came to Colgan. I started forensics in my freshman year and I have never regretted it. I’ve been trying to get my sister to take it.”
She’s nearly as enthusiastic about benefits of forensics as she is about dogs.
“It has helped me in my school work, in my communication skills and self-confidence,” Sanders said. “When you’re applying for scholarships you often have to go through interviews. You may be good at a number of things, but if you can’t speak effectively, it is such an obstacle.”
She praised those who have helped her achieve her dream, including forensics coach Alice Hilt and her sister, Robyn Hilt, who assisted.
“I couldn’t have made it without the help of my coaches and my parents, who got me up at 6:30 a.m. to go to tournaments,” Sanders said.
