LCC Speech & Debate honored with conference awards

The Lower Columbia College Fighting Smelt Speech & Debate Team earned multiple team and individual awards at the Viking Invitational hosted by Western Washington University – the final Northwest Forensics Conference (NFC) Designated Tournament of the season. The team won first place in the community college division of the tournament and was also honored as a Division III Gold Program in the conference, which represents schools in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Alaska.

Ilinca Slabu of Longview won the prestigious Orv Iverson Award, which is presented annually to the best novice or junior level competitor in the conference based on their cumulative season-long success. She earned this award based on remarkable achievements in persuasive, informative, impromptu, and extemporaneous speaking as well as IPDA debate.

Molly Mahoney of Kelso went undefeated in junior IPDA debate and was named top junior speaker. Mahoney won the final round by successfully affirming the resolution “Grand Canyon University should be granted nonprofit status.” In addition to debate, Mahoney placed fourth in junior impromptu and fifth in open persuasive speaking.

Reagan Gosselin of Longview was the novice persuasive speaking champion for her compelling speech about the United States Postal Service. Gosselin was also a quarterfinalist in novice IPDA debate and finished third in novice informative speaking.

Jagger Norris of Longview was a semifinalist in novice IPDA debate and was named third novice speaker. Norris also competed in extemporaneous speaking.

Competing at her first career collegiate speech and debate tournament, Penelope Anderson of Napavine placed sixth in novice informative speaking. Anderson also competed in extemporaneous speaking and IPDA debate.

Also representing Lower Columbia College at the Viking invitational were Nyssa Miller of Toledo and Destiny Losolla of Longview.

LCC Speech and Debate will now begin preparing for national tournaments with a series of online competitions hosted by schools in different regions of the country.