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Communication Studies Professor Receives National Awards

Communication Studies Professor Receives National Awards

Michael Dreher receives service awards from the National Forensic Association and the Novice Nationals.

Michael Dreher, professor of communication studies and director of forensics, received two national forensics service awards: the 2014 President’s Award for outstanding service to the National Forensic Association (NFA), and recognition from the Novice Nationals tournament for directing the event for the last 17 years, during which time it grew by nearly 40%.

For nearly 17 years, Dreher was the webmaster for the NFA and helped the organization to digitize the association’s journal. The President’s Award is not regularly awarded, but instead given only at the discretion of the NFA president. 


From 1998-2014, Dreher directed the Novice Nationals tournament, a national college forensics tournament that was designed for first-year college competitors. Along with its double digit growth, Dreher was responsible for adding parliamentary debate and Readers’ Theater to the events offered at the tournament.

"One of Michael's outstanding strengths is his willingness to serve and to do it at a high level of excellence,” says Nancy Brule, chair of the communication studies department, “We are proud to be able to claim Dr. Dreher as being a vital part of the communication studies department at Bethel. Those who know him and work with him appreciate his passion and dedication to the forensic program both at the local and national level. We congratulate him on this well-deserved honor."