Tyler Junior College swept the Texas Community Community College Forensic Association’s State Tournament this past weekend, taking first place in all three categories: debate, individual and overall.
The competition was held Jan. 25-27 at San Jacinto College in Pasadena.
“Not only did TJC win all three sweepstakes honors, but we also brought home the Collier Patton Cumulative Sweepstakes award, which is based on multiple years of sweepstakes points,” said M’Liss Hindman, TJC forensics team director and professor. “Once you win it, your points go back to zero and you start over. This is our third time to win the award since its inception.”
Dr. Juan E. Mejia, TJC president for branch locations and district provost, said, “Congratulations to Professor M’Liss Hindman for her long-standing leadership, and to our students for always representing our institution in such a positive way. We applaud their continued success.”
Hindman also highlighted team captains Carson Moreland of Hughes Springs and Nick White of Dallas, who won first place in each of their events.
In addition to Moreland and White, team members include: Mackenzie Clayton, Van; Daniella Juarez, Mesquite; Michelle Lopez, Mesquite; Laurel Maynard, Tyler; Ivory Smith, Dallas; Johnny Vasallo, Mesquite; Taisia Wamsley, Arlington; and Zach White, Buffalo.
TJC students earning individual honors were:
IPDA (International Public Debate Association) Debate:
1st: Nick White
2nd: Michelle Lopez
Parliamentary Debate:
1st: Nick White and Laurel Maynard
Top debate speakers:
1st: Nick White
3rd: Michelle Lopez
Prose:
1st: Carson Moreland
2nd: Ivory Smith
4th: Mackenzie Clayton
Dramatic interpretation:
1st: Carson Moreland
4th: Zach White
5th: (a rare tie) Mackenzie Clayton and Ivory Smith
Program Oral Interpretation:
2nd: Johnny Vassalo
Speech to Entertain:
1st: Carson Moreland
Impromptu:
1st: Nick White
2nd: Michelle Lopez
4th: Daniela Juarez
5th: Laurel Maynard
Extemporaneous:
1st: Nick White
2nd: Daniela Juarez
3rd: Laurel Maynard
6th: Michelle Lopez
Individual Events’ Top Speakers:
2nd: Carson Moreland
4th: Nick White
For more on the TJC speech and debate program, go to TJC.edu/speech.