03/31/10

Story by Peggy Graham

Debate team wins national community college championship

OVERLAND PARK, KAN. - The Johnson County Community College debate team was awarded the prestigious McClintock Award, which is presented to the national champion community college team, at the Cross-Examination Debate Association (CEDA) National Tournament held in Berkeley, Calif., March 25-29.

The CEDA national championship is based on the team's success during the entire season in competition with four-year colleges and universities as well as other community colleges.

Kansas City Kansas Community College was the runner-up.

This is the first championship title for JCCC in eight years, and the fourth year in a row JCCC has been in the top three in community college sweepstakes.

JCCC debaters were awarded several national recognitions at the various ceremonies during the tournament. Emily Umphrey, Lenexa, was awarded with the "Outstanding New Competitor Award" for debaters in their first year of competition without prior debate experience who show growth and participation in the activity. Umphrey was selected from a nationwide pool of applicants.

Caitlin Breslin, Leawood, and Dalton Lawson, Tonganoxie, were selected to the All-American Debate Team. The award is given to 30 debaters who represent the best of intercollegiate debate. Recipients demonstrate competitive success, good conduct and contributions to their squad.

Throughout the year, the JCCC debate team was consistently ranked as the top community college, maintained a top 20 national ranking that includes four-year colleges since November, and finished in the top 25 nationwide for the year.

The public is invited to watch the national championship team in a debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 28, in room 211 of the Carlsen Center.

In addition to Umphrey, Breslin and Lawson, members of the debate team are Keith Alexander-Arceneaux, Bel Aire, Kan.; Kristin Brandt, Lansing; Amanda Brown, Overland Park; Ben Cuellar, Kansas City, Kan.; Sarah Elliott, Lenexa; Kate Garmeva, Overland Park; Zach Hartkopp, Andover; Faryal Ijaz, Leawood; Tyler Kowalewski, Overland Park; Rebekah Raukman, Overland Park; Andrew Saulzman, Overland Park; Brandie Shepherd, Shawnee; Travis Steele, Lawrence; and Darnell Wallace, Overland Park.

Terri Easley, Overland Park, associate professor, speech and debate, serves as JCCC's debate team coach. Justin Stanley, Kansas City, Mo., assistant professor, speech, is the assistant debate team coach.

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