Story by Emely De Haro, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Photo Courtesy of Speech and Debate
The Cypress College Speech and Debate Team won the national championship after competing against 51 other community colleges nationwide, earning multiple individual and team accolades.
The six-member team excelled in various categories, claiming top honors while showcasing their public speaking and debate skills.
Jacob Blair led the team, winning gold medals in impromptu speaking, extemporaneous speaking, and IPDA debate. He ranked No. 2 overall in the parliamentary debate and earned the Top Speaker Award, placing first in the tournament.
Brandon Lee Griffin also stood out, earning gold medals in IPDA and NFA LD debates and a bronze in extemporaneous speaking. He placed fourth for the prestigious Bovero Award, recognizing the top five competitors who advance to the semifinals in their events.
Other team members also received medals:
- Bianca Alcantara: Bronze in impromptu speaking and parliamentary debate
- London Lopez: Bronze in extemporaneous speaking and parliamentary debate
- Faiz Ganie: Bronze in parliamentary debate and NFA LD debate
- Frank Hernandez: Bronze in parliamentary debate
In the team categories, Cypress College won gold in both the Debate Sweepstakes and Overall Sweepstakes, further solidifying its dominance in the tournament.
The Bovero Award is considered one of the most prestigious honors in collegiate forensics. It is awarded to the top five competitors with the highest cumulative scores across multiple events. This year, Cypress College had two recipients: Blair, who placed second, and Griffin, who placed fourth.
With this championship win, Cypress College continues to cement its reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate forensics, highlighting the talent and dedication of its students on the national stage.
