From L to R: Dennis Tekell, Jose Alvarez, Kathryn Lucido, Evan Mullicane (back row),
Brianna Klipp, Miguel Mauricio, Assistant Coach and Professor Dave Zimny (back row),
Kevin Orozco, Collin Brown, Assistant Coach and Adjunct Professor Marie Arcidiacono.
PITTSBURG: The Los Medanos College (LMC) National Debate Team recently returned from the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) Championship Tournament in Flagstaff, Arizona at Northern Arizona University. The team placed 3rd overall in the Community College Division, which took place from March 20-24, 2014.
Eight LMC students comprised the winning team, and include Miguel Mauricio and Kevin Orozco of Pittsburg; Jose Alvarez, Brianna Klipp, Kathryn Lucido and Collin Brown of Antioch; Evan Mullicane of Oakley; and Dennis Tekell of San Ramon. They came out victorious in rounds against many four-year universities which included University of the Pacific, University of Nevada-Reno, and San Diego State University, to name a few.
This team win follows a very successful tournament in February where two students, Dennis Tekell and Dylan Melowitz, won the Novice Division in a regional competition. It is of note that they had both just joined the team three weeks prior to the competition.
One of the team assistant coaches, adjunct professor Marie Arcidiacono commented, “The 2014 National Parliamentary Debate Association Championship Tournament was a memorable experience for all involved. I could not be more proud of the Nationals Team. Their hard work, dedication to excellence and tenacity, not just at the National Tournament, but all season long, as been amazing. It was an extremely proud coaching moment for me to hear our college being called as the 3rd place team for community colleges at the national tournament. Our entire squad, including those who did not attend the National Tournament, is made up of wonderful and talented competitors."
The team has had a stellar year, and we applaud them in their current standing amongst colleges nationally:
- 3rd Place for community colleges at NPDA Nationals (Flagstaff, AZ)
- 12th ranked institution amongst community colleges nationally (season-long sweepstakes)
- 52nd ranked institution amongst both community colleges and 4-year colleges and universities nationally (season-long sweepstakes)
LMC has had a debate team only since Fall 2011 when the college hired Kasey Gardener as a communications professor. Under his leadership, the program has flourished, with that inaugural year's debate team also placing 3rd amongst community college teams in the 2012 NPDA National Tournament which took place in Bellingham, Washington.
For more information about the LMC Debate Team, visit /speech/debate/
Los Medanos College (LMC) is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District. LMC prepares students to excel and succeed economically, socially and intellectually in an innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment. It provides quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities to serve the needs of a rapidly growing and changing East County while enhancing the quality of life of the diverse communities it serves. LMC is located on 120 acres between Pittsburg and Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.