Santa Monica College Speech & Debate Team Snags 14 Awards

SANTA MONICA, CA – The Santa Monica College Speech and Debate Team continues its winning streak, bringing home a total of 14 awards and new honors from two tournaments in October and November.

On Oct. 14, 11 SMC debaters competed in the first annual Crossman Invitational at El Camino College, at which 99 students from 20 community colleges and four-year institutions competed – three SMC students received Bronze awards, and one student won the Gold award after advancing to the elimination round. Baylynne Brunetti, Shaindi Schwebel and Edward Lee received Bronze in Debate; Andrew Mishkin won his Bronze round, then advanced to the final round, taking Gold, the top award, according to the SMC press release.

At the Robert Barbera Collegiate Forensics Invitational Tournament at California State University, Northridge in Nov., 10 SMC students competed and won a total of 10 awards in Speech events. 233 students from 24 community and four-year colleges from California and other southwestern states participated at this event.

Andrew Mishkin took 2nd place in both Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking and Andrea Conte took 1st place in After Dinner Speaking, with Baylynne Brunetti taking 2nd place. Finalists in Impromptu Speaking included Ben Kolodny (Team Captain), Edward Lee, and Shaindi Schwebel. Kyle Lee won 3rd place in both Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Speaking, and Nick Graves was a finalist in Extemporaneous Speaking, the press release said.

“Even though we all compete against each other at tournaments, there's a communal sense of pride whenever someone from SMC brings home an award," Multiple award-winner Andrew Mishkin said. "The Speech and Debate team has given me a newfound confidence, but also a new circle of friends.”

The team’s participation at both events was funded by the SMC Associated Students.

The last tournament of the Fall — the Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Association (PSCFA) Fall Champs—takes place December 1-3 at Moorpark College, which will help determine the squad of SMC speakers and debaters who will be invited to the national Phi Rho Pi National Speech and Debate Tournament in April.

"The SMC debate team has been a great experience, especially preparing for law school,” said Kyle Lee. “Competing at tournaments has helped me hone my communications skills, useful in many different aspects of life."

SMC Communication Professor Nate Brown coaches the team along with SMC Communication professors Luis Andrade and Brianna Broady.

“The SMC Debate Team has an outstanding record of achievement,” says Brown. “2017-18 has gotten off to a great start and may become a record breaking year of great communication, powerful argumentation, and bonding friendships.”

Photo courtesy of Santa Monica College