On Saturday, May 4th, 2024, Star Wars Day, the Skyline College Forensics Team hosted its second on-campus tournament for the Northern California Forensics Association (NCFA). Marketing helped welcome over 150 competitors, coaches, and judges from 19 colleges and universities who traveled to Skyline College to compete in the final NCFA-sponsored tournament of the competitive year with a Star Wars-themed marquee. Students showcased their talents in over fifteen speech and debate categories. Throughout the day, competitors were encouraged to take team photos in a Star Wars-themed photo booth and competed in a Star Wars Trivia Game at lunch hosted by Ben Cook (Business Management Major). It’s safe to say the 13-hour day was long but full of fun.
Trojans, Mita Tandel (Communication Studies Major), Anne Marionne Osila (Fulbright Scholar), and Sameer Murthy competed in Impromptu. Impromptu speaking is a limited preparation event where competitors are given a set of quotations and have two minutes to pick one quotation and prepare a 5-minute speech. It is one of the more challenging events to compete in. Sameer broke to the final round and placed 4th, earning a Bronze Award!
Hosting this event would not have been possible, let alone successful, without the work and collaboration of the following individuals: Communication Studies Professor Jessica Hurless, Business Professor Grace Beltran, Communication Studies Professor Ryan Lescure, and Dean Chris Gibson. Special recognition goes to Skyline College colleagues who came out to support and execute the event: The Skyline College Forensics team, The Facilities Team, Public Safety Officer Jeremy Peneflor, Skyline Marketing, Kennya Ruiz, Annie Trinh, Cherie Colin, Rossmia Coo, Cassidy Ryan, Gabby Ceja, Jamie Flick, Kevin Chak, Amanda Bortoli, and the SkyGap Crew for our t-shirts. Thank you for your continued support! And May the 4th…always be with you!
Other notable achievements this competitive year include Christian Reyes-Aguilar (Mathematics Major) earning Silver in IPDA Debate at the Talk Hawk Invitational held at Los Positas College in Livermore on February 2, 2024.
Elian Fontanilla (Business Administration Major) was a finalist at the Northern California Forensics Association Spring Championship tournament in Impromptu Speaking the weekend of February 23, 2024, in Chico, CA.
Article by: Lindsey Ayotte
