Moraine Valley Speech and DebateTeam earns silver in first virtual tournament

The Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team won second place overall along with nine individual awards at its first virtual Region IV Affiliated Forensics League Tournament lat month.

Colleges and universities from the tri-state area participated in the online tournament using lapel microphones, ring lights and laptop cameras.

“Our students have worked extremely hard to both prepare for and adapt to this new form of competition,” said JohnNash, Moraine Valley communications professor, who is one of three faculty leaders of the team. “… We had a team meeting, and they all agreed that they would rather be face-to-face, but they are thrilled that they are able to compete.”

Nicole Dela Rosa, of Burbank, took first place in Speaking to Entertain and third place in Communication Analysis; Noor Awaidah, of Oak Lawn, earned second place in Communication Analysis; Shelby Woody, of Homer Glen, took first place in Duo Interpretation and third in Dramatic Interpretation; Tyler Orel, of Bridgeview, earned second in Prose Interpretation; Alexis Lyons, of Orland Park, received third in Program of Oral Interpretation; AidanMcGuire, ofMokena, earned thirdin Poetry Interpretation; and Trystan Julian, of Chicago Ridge, netted first in Duo Interpretation.

Nash and fellow coaches Krista Appelquist, communications professor, and Amanda Pettigrew, communications assistant professor, work with the students over a combination of Google Docs, Zoom and Webex. This entire forensics season, including the national tournament in April, will be online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.