Speech, debate head off to tournaments

Mt. Hood Community College’s Forensics team will head to Columbia Basin College this weekend in Pasco, Wash., for their upcoming debate.

According to Head Coach Liz Kinnaman, this regional championship is for both debate and individual events.

“This year has been a challenging and exciting year for our team, with many new students and new tournaments,” said Kinnaman. “Our students work hard and are a pleasure to coach.  They are creative and dynamic, and enjoy healthy academic competition, without losing sight of their educational goals. “

The team recently returned from the National BP Tournament at the University of La Verne in Los Angeles (April 12-14).

“Our students discussed lots of different current event topics, including budget sequestration, international foreign policy, technology and law and many others.  Our debaters did well, and were up against teams from Harvard, Yale, Cornell, both graduate and undergraduate students,” said Kinnaman.

She said the students present a wide variety of speeches, from humorous after-dinner speeches to poetry and literature interpretation, to impromptu and extemporaneous speaking, as well as debate.

With the season winding down, Kinnaman expects the new members of the team to have a major impact next year.

“Our newer members, Elsie Praeger-Goller, Karasalla Fale Patton, Phillip LePoivedin and Hunter Jones are energetic and tireless, and have achieved a good degree of success so far in their competitions.  They are ready to take on the driver’s seat next year and lead our team to many more awards,” said Kinnaman.

Senior members of the team have had a big impact on the younger members this year, according to Kinnaman.

“Stephanie Saracco, Kim Neal, and Ryan Rhoades, senior members of the team, work closely with our newer members and the coaching staff to keep our team competitive,” said Kinnaman.