September 30. City of Kirkland's 100th Anniversary commemorative debate: The Battle with Seattle. Northwest University students faced the top team from the University of Washington on the topic: When it comes to livability the Eastside is better than the Westside. Both the audience and the judging panel voted for Northwest. Two alumni participated in the event as a judge and commentator. The debate was broadcasted live over the KGOV Kirkland cable television station Tens of thousands of potential viewers in our area saw first hand the quality of students that we produce.

Since then the debate has been re-broadcasted weekly and is available for viewing on demand on KGVO web page -- exposing even more in the community to our brightest students. The event was reported in the Eastside Journal with a photo on page one on September 28. It was also announced in the Seattle Times. A student leader, TalkBack president Tania Fleming, was in charge of publicity and refreshments after the debate. Costs for the debate was $50. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/faculty/ggillespie/Public%20debate,%20report%20on%20the_battle_with_seattle_on.htm

October 1. Debate Alumni lunch at the Gillespie home on Saturday afternoon. Debate alumni joined with current members of the team in a lunch and discussion with President Argue on his experiences at the Clinton Initiative event in New York City.

October 7 -- 9 Lewis and Clark College Debate Tournament in Portland. None of our teams break into final rounds.

October 22 -- 23 University of Puget Sound Debate Tournament in Tacoma. Taylor Jones and Katie Jo Buccola win a quarter finalist award. http://www.northwestu.edu/news/05/051024.php

November 2 Chapel Small Group begins. Gillespie leads seven students in Bible study, group activities and prayer four times this semester.

November 4 Lower Columbia College Debate Tournament. Taylor Jones and Kortney Thoma win second place. Taylor received a plaque for ranking as the best over all speaker in all divisions out of 56 competitors. Kortney ranked as the third best speaker over all and second in junior division. Nathan Chambers and Kevin Botterbusch won third place in junior division. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/faculty/ggillespie/debate,%20LCC%20report%202005.htm

November 11 - 13 Linfield College Debate Tournament. Kevin Botterbusch and Cassi Dunn won First Place novice debate at the 75th annual Linfield College Forensics tournament in McMinnville, OR. Kevin received a plaque for ranking as the fourth best novice debate speaker out of 46 contestants. Taylor Jones and Katie Jo Buccola won a Quarter Finalist award in junior division. Gideon Copple and Kortney Thoma won an Octa-finalist (top 16) award. Team Captain Jordan Goddard placed as the sixth best open division speaker out of 74. Jordan also won third place in the highly competitive impromptu speaking event. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/faculty/ggillespie/news,%20debaters_win_first_place%20LC%20Fall%202005.htm

November 17 Public Debate on Human Trafficking sponsored by the TalkBack Debating Society. Katie Jo Buccola and Taylor Jones faced Robert Martin and Kortney Thoma on the topic: The US should work with the UN in combating human trafficking. The debate was sponsored by a $250 grant form the International Debate Education Association. The event was announced in both the Eastside Journal and the Seattle Times and 22 people attended at a busy time in the semester. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/majors/communication/News,%20human_trafficking%20debate,%20fall%202005.htm

In the interests of safety for our students, because of a snow storm I chose to skip the the University of Portland debate tournament the weekend of December 2.

December 10 Eagle Debate Christmas party at the Gillespie home.

Overall this semester I strengthened the communication major with a new course and web page updates, continued our success with the debate team, contributed to alumni relations, established a new positive relationship with the Communication Director for the City of Kirkland and promoted the University in the community through positive exposure in the two newspapers and our local cable television station.

In addition to the above, I also devoted many hours advising Communication majors for their courses and helped them secure positions for internships. For examples, I contacted the Canadian Embassy and the head of International Relations at Microsoft to try to find an internship for a student who wants to be a foreign diplomat.

I assisted several other advisees in securing internships, including a position working with the top sports radio announcer for the Sonics Basketball team at KJR and a video production position with the City of Redmond. Because of our contact with the Communication Director of the City of Kirkland, I was able to recruit a films studies communication major to serve as anchor for a television news show with the Kirkland cable station.

This semester I recruited three alumni to help as assistant debate coaches and judges at tournaments, Nathan and Mercy Novak and David Thompson with David and Mercy being hired by the University. In addition I worked on details for our debate trip to Prague, Czech Republic in March, raising gifts, collecting fees, paying for airline tickets and hotel costs. Alumnus Paul Nystrom  accepted my invitation  to judge for us in Prague and will be not only be taking ten days off from work but will pay all of his costs. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/faculty/ggillespie/Debate%20Trips/Prague%202006%20journey_to_the_heart_of_europe.htm

I planned a debate alumni event for September. The weekend event will feature debate alumnus James Stewart, the debate coach at Bethany College in California, who will receive an award as an outstanding alumnus. We hope to televise a debate on the Kirkland cable station and have another debate on campus. James was selected to be on the US Debate team in 2000 and was the only American to make public speaking finals at the World's Championships in Athens, Greece in 1998.

In addition I am working on a debate trip to Oxford University next November and have recruited Jason Stanford, the former coach of La Vern University -- which won second place at the Worlds Championship in 1999, to help us with contacts in Great Britain. He has offered to go with us to Oxford since he has been to the tournament several times.

I also planned and wrote a syllabus and web page for a summer backpacking course offered for one credit of Physical Education in August. I was able to recruit my cousin, Brent Gillespie, major with the United States Air Force and F 16 pilot, to be a guide on the trip into the Pasayten Wilderness the first week of August. He is in charge of training 25 other pilots in wilderness survival and will enhance the quality of the course. http://eagle.northwestu.edu/academic/artsci/faculty/ggillespie/PEDU%201891_wilderness_backpacking%202006.htm

In addition I am committed out a local Assemblies of God Church, The Chapel at Cedar Park.

Standing Goals for Professional Development
1. Publish an article once each academic year. Outcome: I have published an article every year for the last six years, except 2005 and 2003. I am working on an article on the effect of computer integrated communication on organizational leadership. In addition, I have an outline for an article applying Sun Tzu's the Art of War to debate. I have also completed 75,000 words on a novel set in the Pacific Northwest stone age.

2. Maintain web pages. Outcome: my web pages are extensive and provide valuable information to help students.

3. Research Doctorial programs. Outcome: I have researched several programs and am considering if it would be worth the time and costs.

4. Every debater will win an award. Outcome: All students so far this year have won an award except one.

5. Submit newsworthy press releases that will produces articles in local media. Outcome: King County Journal, September 28 article. KGOV is still broadcasting our debate weekly. I hope to have another article from the Prague trip.

6. Revise exams in all classes to be the cooperative group exams. Outcome: all classes now have revised exams.

7. To make physical fitness a priority. Outcome: I am loosing weight, building a stronger body and am more fit than at any point in my life. This helps in me keeping energy levels high to complete my professional tasks.

Evaluation by Peer
Professor Gary Gillespie is an invaluable asset to Northwest University. As chair of the Communication Department, he has single-handedly established the stellar NU Speech and Debate program, which annually produces some of the best student speakers in the country. Gary advises an incredibly large number of Communication majors, not only academically but also in terms of their professional development and spiritual concerns.

He is devoted to the growth of his Department, his students, and to the University as a whole. As a faculty member who shares the lower halls of Hurst Library with him, I can attest to the fact that Gary consistently proves to be a generous, collaborative colleague, and I -- along with many others – am honored to serve the NU community with him. He provides a true example of professionalism and authentic spirituality in the realm of Christian higher education. -- Debbie Pope, English Professor

Evaluation by Student Leader
Professor Gary Gillespie is a gift to Northwest University. His steady promotion of education and tireless devotion to his students are a hallmark of his character and faith.    

His dedication to students reaches far beyond the classroom and into the real world where he has been instrumental in countless student lives. This is showcased in his development of internship contacts and arrangement of international trips which provide rich learning environments for Northwest undergraduates.    

More than this, Professor Gillespie’s unrelenting desire for knowledge pervades his actions. He consistently updates his website with beneficial information and equips debaters with the latest news as to continue the legacy of success he has created over the past two decades.     

And finally, Mr. Gillespie is more than a teacher he is a friend. He often invites students to his home, providing cash stripped students a warm meal and time of fellowship. Most importantly however, Professor Gillespie is providing a launch pad for students to succeed in a post collegiate world. -- Rory Eldridge, senior Communication major and President of the Organizational Communication Concentration.

Evaluation by Administrator