Members of the Pinecrest Debate Team will showcase their speaking skills at the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center Thursday, May 29, at 2 p.m. Presenting a program of public forum debate, the team will present arguments on "Resolved: The United States should increase social services to indigenous people in America."

Representing the speech program are Meredith Potter and Caleb Frye, both juniors and David Pferdekamper and Jake Flittner, who are seniors. Both teams earned the right to represent North Carolina at the National Catholic Forensic League Grand Championship during the weekend of May 23-26, in Appleton, Wis.

Public forum debate pits one two-man team against another, much in the style of the popular TV show, "Crossfire."

Students present four-minute speeches followed by intense periods of question-and-response; the debate then proceeds to brief summation and final focus presentations before the audience decides the winner.

The team of Potter and Frye will also represent North Carolina at the National Forensic League National Finals in Las Vegas, Nev. They are currently ranked first in the nation as qualifiers for the 2008 Tournament of Champions. The Pferdekamper-Flittner team garnered the championship crown as this year's Georgetown University Invitational Debate Tournament in Washington, D.C., in March.

"The public is invited to experience the skills of this nationally recognized debate team," says a spokesman.

The Senior Enrichment Center is located at 8040 U.S. 15-501 (two miles north of the Pinehurst traffic circle).

"Call 215-0900 for information or to reserve a seat," says the spokesman.