With new members, Forensics continues to build professional skills

The MHCC Forensics team hopes to build on last year successes, according to its interim director, and fall term performances indicate they are right on track.

“We have had a pretty good season so far this year,” according to Liz Kinnaman, who is filling in for Shannon Valdivia for the 2012-2013 season.  “We have won several sweepstakes awards at tournaments fall term, and each of our students has won individual awards in their personal speeches and their individual and team debates.”

Forensics is in its 35th year at MHCC and the team participates year round in competitions both regionally and nationally. They are the defending Northwest Forensics Conference and Pi Kappa Delta Province of the Great West Community College Regional champions. Last year the team placed in the top ten in all its tournaments.

Forensics students compete in various categories, such as impromptu, extemporaneous, persuasive, informative and after-dinner speaking and speech to entertain. In addition, they also compete in the categories of dramatic interpretation, poetry interpretation, and even reader’s theater. Forensics team members also debate in Parliamentary Debate Style and British Parliamentary Style.
Next month, the MHCC team will host the Saints High School Invitational High School Tournament.

“Our debate students assist in running the tournament, which helps recruit future Mt. Hood students and promotes our organization among the debate community,” said Kinnaman.
The Forensics team will be sending between six and 12 members to compete in tournaments in Washington, Oregon and California.

“We are always welcoming new members. As of this term we welcome four new members to the team,” said Kinnaman.
Asked what skills Forensics students take with them to future jobs, Kinnaman said,  “We seek to establish a good base of professional skills on our team, so the rewards of debate are very apparent.  Our students learn valuable organization and research skills, which are integral to college success.

“Professionally, the debate community fosters good sportsmanship and high standards of ethical behavior. We expect our students to excel in their schoolwork, practice proficiency in their debate activities and participate in community service,” said Kinnaman.

“Competitive debate is an activity from which all students can benefit, not just professionally, but personally,” she added. “Participating in speech and debate raises students’ self esteem and helps them to be more personally effective. I think everybody at MHCC benefits from an active and dynamic debate program.”

In addition to its other tournaments, the Forensics team will also sponsor the MHCC Casual Fling College Invitational in May.

Advocate Staff