NEWS RELEASE – December 6, 2010
Contact:
Jennifer Couch
(208) 562-3508
[email protected]
College of Western Idaho Students Win First Place Sweepstakes in Speech and Debate Tournament
The new community college topped four other seasoned colleges to secure the titles
The College of Western Idaho’s Speech and Debate team took first place team honors for both speech and debate
competitions in the Coyote Holiday Havoc Tournament, hosted by College of Idaho this past weekend. Five colleges
competed in the event including: College of Idaho, Boise State University, Northwest Nazarene University, Snow College,
and College of Western Idaho.
CWI had a total of 27 students compete in the tournament with 50 percent at freshman status and over 80 percent of
them experiencing a speech and debate competition for the first time as CWI students. Ten students garnered top
individual awards in addition to team honors:
Josh Valencia–
Top Novice in Prose
3rd place overall in Prose
Top Novice in Impromptu
Rachel Turner –
Ariel Kiser –
Dawn Juker –
Alex Mueller –
3rd Overall in Impromptu
Top Novice in Dramatic Interpretation
2nd overall
1st overall in Dramatic Interpretation
1st in Program of Oral Interpretation
1st in Prose
Top Novice in Program of Oral Interpretation
Top Novice in Prose
3rd overall
Cara Clason and Erick Heath –
Brian Staudinger –
Amanda Ridgeway–
Top Novice in Duo
3rd in After Dinner Speaking
Top Novice in Poetry
1st overall
Carl Chittenden –
2nd in Poetry
Brian North –
2nd in NPDA Debate with Carl Chittenden
TEAM AWARDS –
First Place Sweepstakes in Speech Events
2nd in Novice NPDA Debate with Brian North
First Place Sweepstakes in Debate
“CWI merely started the first speech and debate team last year and have brought back tremendous honors to the
College, including a National silver medal award last spring,” said CWI President Berton Glandon. “Our freshman
students are competing against junior and senior level students – and they are winning! The success is driven by the
impeccable professionalism and dedication of the coaches, Michelle Bennett, Johnny Rowing, and Autumn Brackley. I
have no doubts that the CWI team will prosper at the upcoming regional competition to be held in Bellingham,
Washington in January and transition on to the national competition to be held in Portland this March.”
The Speech and Debate Team will present the first place trophy to President Glandon this Thursday, December 9 at 1:00
p.m. at Nampa Campus, Room 303, 5500 E. Opportunity Drive, Nampa, Idaho. Media is welcome to attend as students
and coaches will be available for interviews.
-###About the College of Western Idaho:
The College of Western Idaho is a public, open-access, and comprehensive community college committed to providing
affordable access to quality teaching and learning opportunities to the residents of its service area in western Idaho. CWI
has seven campus locations throughout Southwest Idaho providing higher education and 21st Century technical skills
acquisition. The college is dedicated to improving the community’s economic well-being by responding with highlyeducated and productive graduates. The foundation for the area’s only community college was created by a
supermajority of voters in Ada and Canyon counties on May 22, 2007. For more information about the college, visit
www.cwidaho.cc or call (208) 562-3000.
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