El Camino College Speech and Debate Team Triumphs at First Tournament

El Camino College’s successful forensics (speech and debate) team recently opened the season by winning the overall sweepstakes award at the 2024 Jannese Davidson Memorial Tournament, hosted by Concordia University in Irvine.

The three-day tournament drew 24 colleges and universities, with El Camino competing against four-year institutions such as the University of Utah, University of the Pacific, UC San Diego, and several California State University campuses. El Camino took on the high-ranking competition and prevailed, becoming the JV champion in parliamentary debate with Juliette and Julissa Celis, and the senior-level champion (usually reserved for four-year schools) in international public debate with Danielle Kabboul, who is also the college’s current president of the Associated Students Organization.

“This is a very talented and hard-working group of students; we look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence while watching this team grow and succeed throughout the season,” said Francesca Bishop, El Camino’s director of forensics and a communication studies professor.

Additional Warrior team members also won individual awards, with Nia Gordon (novice) and Zaynah Robb (JV) winning championships in impromptu speaking, and Ashley Singh becoming the novice extemporaneous speaking champion. Most impressively, nearly all novices came home with an award.

A perennial powerhouse in the speech and debate community, the team regularly competes on both the community college and four-year college/university level. Team members are now preparing for additional regional tournaments, working to advance and qualify to compete in state and national tournaments scheduled for the spring.

In addition to Professor Bishop, herself an El Camino graduate and former team member, the forensics team is coached by two program/college alumni: Joseph Evans, communication studies professor and Brittany Hubble, communication studies assistant professor.