Ripon College Days

The NFL is right here in Ripon. It has nothing to do with football, but it does concern names like Ted Turner, Kelsey Grammer and Oprah Winfrey.

All three are alums of the National Forensics League (NFL), a $1.7 million non-profit organization run entirely from an office on Watson Street. And many Riponites don't even know it exists.

"We're housed in the biggest building on Watson," says Scott Wunn, executive secretary for NFL. "And most people don't even know we're here."

And it is thanks to the vision of one Ripon College student, Bruno E. Jacob, that the organization exists at all.

In 1925, Jacob, a member of Pi Kappa Delta, an honor society for college forensicators, decided an organization like NFL should be available for college and high school students.

The NFL, which began in a small office in East Hall, has progressed into an organization of over one million alumni with 90,000 active members. Additionally, 3,000 high schools across all 50 states, as well as in Guam, South Korea and Europe participate in the activities and support the goals of the NFL.

Its constitution states the goal is "to promote the interests of interscholactic debate, oratory, and public speaking by encouraging the spirit of fellowship."

The organization does so by giving various awards of distinction at tournaments throughout the country. Though the NFL does not organize all of these tournaments, their rules, guidelines and point system are used, with the ultimate goal for students to qualify for the national tournament, which is organized by the NFL.

On top of organizing this tournament, the eleven staff members, who are all residents of the Ripon area, publish a national magazine, design and purchase merchandise, create and maintain the NFL website, tally the scores from forensics tournaments from all over the country, and the list goes on.

"I think it's really neat that the [staff] has the opportunity to do something really beneficial," says Wunn. "Our office, in Ripon, plays a significant role in the lives of so many people."

Local businesses play a significant role as well. Diedrich Insurance, Ripon Printers and Imagineers are just some of the businesses that work with, and promote, the NFL.

"Part of the reason we stay is the hometown feel," says Wunn. "The services and the prices are just as reasonable as any national company, and people are loyal and committed."

In fact, the staff members have a combined experience of more than 125 years.

"People don't leave the NFL very often," says Wunn.

Just the opposite, actually. People join. Ripon College's Assistant Director of Alumni/ Parents Supporting the Admissions Process and Special Admissions Programs Heidi Christensen, also a college alumnae, will be leaving to fill a new position as director of media relations at the NFL at the end of this semester.

"I'll be terribly sad to leave, but at the NFL, I'll still be working with youth," she says.

Like Ripon College, the NFL puts great emphasis on the importance of a community.

"We'd like to do more alumni programs and community based projects that show people we are committed to Ripon."

Wunn sees the organization as multi-faceted, challenging, yet exciting and views Ripon as a great place for the organization to be. "It's just neat that a small town in Wisconsin plays such an important role in the future leaders of our country," he says.

Article Tools