Speech and Debate Team Takes Home the Gold

Captures first place among community colleges at the Smelt Classic

Ten members of the Clark College Speech and Debate Team competed in the 40th Smelt Classic and captured several first-place awards, including placing first among all community colleges in attendance. Colleges from across the Northwest and California participated in the two-day October event in Longview, Wash., at Lower Columbia College. Highlights of Clark’s awards include first place in the Open Editorial Commentary and Open Persuasive Speaking categories; second place in Novice Editorial Commentary, Open After-Dinner Speaking, Open Duo Interpretation and Open Persuasive Speaking; and third place in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking and Open After-Dinner Speaking. In addition, two Clark debaters earned bronze awards in Novice International Public Debate.

Mahaffey Memorial Tournament

In November, the team traveled to McMinnville, Ore., to compete in the 82nd Mahaffey Memorial Tournament at Linfield College. Thirty-two teams from across the country competed in the three-day event including colleges from Missouri, California, Montana and Idaho. Students competed in individual events and three forms of debate—parliamentary, worlds and public—in three divisions: novice, junior and open. Clark’s individual event awards included a third-place trophy in Junior Programmed Oral Interpretation, fourth place in Junior After-Dinner Speaking and fifth in Novice Extemporaneous Speaking. Additionally, debate awards included semifinalist in the Junior Parliamentary Debate and Novice Public Debate categories, as well as quarterfinalist awards in the Novice Parliamentary and Public Debate divisions. In all, Clark placed second among all community colleges in attendance.