For the first time in over a decade, Diablo Valley College took home the 2017 Northern California Speech and Debate championship title, beating out all two and four year schools entered in the competition. DVC forensics (speech and debate) advanced through 24 grueling speech and debate events to win the championship, as well as five individual speaking championships and multiple runner-ups and finalist awards.
DVC forensics has had a busy year participating in speech and debate events across the country. They won several additional tournaments including the Santa Rosa Junior College Invitational, University of the Pacific, the Paul Winters Invitational, and placed 3rd in the state championship, which is the highest DVC has placed in over 20 years. This year has truly been an impressive display of the talent and work ethic of these DVC students. As a result, many of them have been recruited for transfer to a four-year institution in speech and debate competition.
The season is far from over and DVC Forensics hopes to have a few more titles under their belt before the school year ends. To sponsor the team, visit DVC Foundation and click donate now (you’ll see a designation option for speech and debate team). Join us in congratulating them on their success!
*Update: DVC Forensics took home the gold at the nationals in Washington D.C. Their overall performance made them the national champions in the Wheeler Division (medium schools) at the 2017 Phi Rho Pi National Tournament. They also won three individual national championships and had two undefeated debaters with eight other events reaching bronze and silver elimination rounds.
Open Level Speakers
1st – Program Oral interpretation – Avangeline Balingit
1st – After Dinner Speaking – Ndea Johnson
2nd – Poetry Interpretation – Avangeline Balingit
2nd – Prose Interpretation – Jasmine Kharma
3rd – Duo Interpretation - Bryan Zaldana and Joshua Tiquia
3rd – Poetry Interpretation – Jasmine Kharma
3rd – Persuasive Speaking – Miranda Konoplisky
Finalist – Program Oral Interpretation –Joshua Tiquia
Finalist – Persuasive Speaking – Alan Fishman
Finalist – Poetry Interpretation – Bryan Zaldana
Finalist – Program Oral Interpretation – Michelle Barbadillo
Octa-Finalist – Parliamentary Debate – Meredith Mountjoy and Alan Fishman
Novice Speakers
1st – Prose Interpretation – Shannon Dare
1st – Dramatic Interpretation – Meredith Mountjoy
1st – Persuasive Speaking – Kellie Brinley
2nd – Program Oral Interpretation – Maureen McSweeney
2nd – Dramatic Interpretation – Adam Hartley
3rd – Program Oral Interpretation – Dominique Smith
3rd – Dramatic Interpretation – Shannon Dare
Finalist – Dramatic Interpretation – Sarah Martin
Finalist – Dramatic Interpretation – Manuel Herrera
Finalist – Dramatic Interpretation – Daniel Cordero
Quarter-Finalist – Parliamentary Debate – Zsofia Fulop and Kelan Bomar
Diablo Valley College - 3rd Place, State Championships
Jasmine Kharma - Program Oral Interpretation - Gold Medalist (State Champion)
Jasmine Kharma - Prose Interpretation - Gold Medalist
Meredith Mountjoy - Parliamentary Debate - Gold Medalist
Meredith Mountjoy - Persuasive Speaking - Gold Medalist
Alan Fishman - Parliamentary Debate - Gold Medalist
Miranda Konoplisky - Parliamentary Debate - Gold Medalist
Avangeline Balingit - Parliamentary Debate - Gold Medalist
Meredith Mountjoy - International Public Debate - Silver Medalist
Alan Fishman - International Public Debate - Silver Medalist
Shannon Dare - Dramatic Interpretation - Silver Medalist
Bryan Zaldana - Prose Interpretation - Silver Medalist
Bryan Zaldana - Poetry Interpretation - Silver Medalist
Avangeline Balingit - Program Oral Interpretation - Bronze Medalist
Avangeline Balingit - Poetry Interpretation - Bronze Medalist
Michelle Barbadillo - Program Oral Interpretation - Bronze Medalist