Following a successful Rout to Indianapolis in 2012, FFI alumni began the March to Birmingham in 2013.
In September, FFI alums began by earning multiple bids to the Tournament of Champions in both Congressional Debate and Public Forum Debate. At the Yale Invitational, FFI alums were the champions in Congressional Debate and Humorous Interpretation, as well as finalists in Extemporaneous Speaking, Dramatic Interpretation and Original Oratory. In Congressional Debate, FFI continued its dominance in Congressional Debate with 15 of the 10 finalists, as well as nine of the top ten, including the first, second, and third place finishers.
FFI alums continued the March to Birmingham in October with the Congressional Debate champion at the New York City Invitational. At the Blue Key Invitational, 51% of finalists in Congressional Debate were FFI attendees. The Blue Key champions in both Congressional Debate and Original Oratory were FFI alums. FFI students were represented in every final round of Individual Events at Blue Key.
In November, FFI Alums marched through the Glenbrooks Invitational in Chicago en route to Birminham. Congressional Debaters continued their dominance owning 8 of the top 10 places, including a 1-2-3 sweep. The championship in Oral Interpretation and second place in Original Oratory were captured by FFI alums as well. FFI students contined to earn bids to the Tournament of Champions in Condgressional Debate and Public Forum.
December brought the winter chill of the Blake tournament in Minneapolis, where FFI students earned more Bids to the Tournament of Champions. In the Congressional Debate Round Robin, FFI alums captured first and fourth places out of the twelve invited participants.
The January thaw arrived with the Sunvitational in Ft. Lauderdale where FFI alums were represented in every out round. In Congressional Debate, FFI students accounted for 12 of the 15 Finalists, including first, third,fourth and sixth places. In Dramatic Interpretation, FFI had four of the seven Finalists, including third, fourth and sixth places. Three of the six Finalists in Humorous Interpretation, Oral Interpretation, and Original Oratory were FFI students with FFI alums taking first, third and sixth place in Oral Interpretation.
Late January brought the Barkley Forum at Emory University where FFI alums continued the March to Birmingham in full force with a finalist in Extemporaneous Speaking. In Congressional Debate, FFI students comprised the vast majority in semi-finals, as well as over half of the finalists, capturing first, second, fifth and sixth places. Dramatic Interpretation finals contained a majority of FFI alums, with a second place finish. A second place finish was achieved in Oral Interpretation as well, while an FFI student took first place in both Humorous Interpretation and Original Oratory. This has been accomplished only three times in the 58 year history of the prestigious Barkley Forum.
At the Harvard Invitational in February, FFI students placed in every event, culminating in a 1-2-3 finish in Congressional Debate.