Bill O'Brien of Elmont, a graduate of Kellenberg High School, built a strong resume in public speaking during his first semester at Lafayette, earning high marks in four recent Forensics Society competitions.

Despite fielding a team of just three students, the Forensics Society earned a remarkable second-place finish after winning four events at a tournament hosted by the University of Rhode Island Dec. 6-7. O'Brien paced the squad by taking first place in the after-dinner speaking, persuasion, and poetry reading competitions. He also finished second in prose reading.

"I am once again pleased to have found success in New England," said O'Brien. "I would like to congratulate my teammates for a job well done and for helping me with my material. I am very happy to have ended the semester on such a high note and look forward to competing next semester."

After-dinner speaking contestants present an original, memorized speech of up to 10 minutes to make a serious point through humor. O'Brien argued that the presidential primary process has become far too long and should be improved through national regulations and actions taken by voters and candidates.

Lafayette has finished second or third in its last five forensics events.

O'Brien and his teammates excelled against some of the best debaters in the country, finishing third among 18 teams Nov. 8 at the highly competitive Jack Lynch Tournament hosted by St. Anselm College in Manchester, N.H. He took first place in persuasion, sixth place in poetry reading, and sixth place in prose reading. He also earned fifth place in the trithon category, which recognizes the highest-placing students competing in at least three events.

"I am extremely proud of how both the team performed and how I personally performed," said O'Brien. "I am also very proud of how the team competed at a tournament that is known to be tough for debate. I went into the tournament with the goal of winning persuasion and was thrilled to accomplish that goal...None of my success would be possible without the hard work of my coaches."

O'Brien helped Lafayette finish first among schools in Pi Kappa Delta, the national forensics honor society, at a regional competition for the third consecutive time Nov. 1-2 at the Mad Hatter Tournament hosted by Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, PA.

O'Brien is co-president of Residence Hall Council, a DJ on student-run radio station WJRH, and a member of the school newspaper staff, the Arts Society, and Marquis Players, a student group that produces an annual musical for charity.