The Orange Coast College Speech, Debate & Theater team earned first place at the regional Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association (PSCFA) Spring Championship Tournament Feb. 20 to 22 at Moorpark College.
The dynamic team of 18 students led the tournament with an impressive 50 points total, easily earning them first place overall at the community college level. The group brought home 18 awards and accolades after competing in 43 competitive events across 13 categories at the weekend event.
OCC was one of 26 Southern California colleges and universities at the tournament, including UC San Diego, CSU San Diego, Concordia University, and Cal State Long Beach.
Top accolades went to Mia Rinaldi who won Gold in the Open International Public Debate Association (IPDA) event, Hera Hartman who took first in the Junior Persuasion event and Christian Delgado who won first in the Open After Dinner event.
Next up for the team is the California Community College Forensics Association (CCCFA) State Championship tournament hosted March 10 through 15 in Concord, Calif. and then the Phi Rho Pi National Championship hosted in Bethesda, Maryland.
Full CCCFA List of Awards below.
After Dinner
- 1st - Christian Delgado
Dramatic Interpretation
- 6th - Mason Shaff
Impromptu
- 3rd - Victor Estrada
- 3rd - Mia Rinaldi
- 6th - Dron Nikam
- Semi-Finalist - Christian Delgado
Informative
- 2nd - Bailey Clements
- 3rd - Audrey Brown Gibbons
- Finalist - Archer Archer
International Public Debate Association (IPDA)
- Gold – Mia Rinaldi
- Bronze – Daniel Christensen
Parliamentary Debate
- Bronze - Mia Rinaldi & Daniel Christensen
- Bronze - Skylar Cunningham & Hannah Egar
Persuasion
- 1st - Hera Hartman
Program Oral Interpretation
- 4th - Mason Shaff
Prose
- 2nd - Dejah Jones
- 5th - Jett Hall
Speaker
- 8th - Max Libudziewski
Support the team and their award-winning presentations at upcoming showcases hosted at Orange Coast College:
March 23 — Speech, Debate & Theater Team: Individual Events Showcase (Public Speaking Events), 3 - 4 p.m., LLSS 146
April 22 — Speech, Debate & Theater Team: Interpreters Theater Showcase, 4 - 5 p.m., Science Hall
May 19 — Speech, Debate & Theater Team: Last Chance Showcase (Public Speaking Events), 2:30 - 3:30 p.m., LLSS 146