Speech and Debate Team Excels at the Bernacchi Invitational

Butte College's Speech and Debate Team achieved remarkable success at the Bernacchi Invitational, a two-day tournament hosted by Diablo Valley College in Pleasant Hill on November 18 and 19. The event featured competition from 22 colleges and universities across California, Texas, and Washington.

On the first day, 14 Butte College students showcased their skills, followed by six students on the second day. The team's outstanding performance resulted in a total of 29 individual awards. As a team, they finished in second place in the two-year division and second overall behind Las Positas College.

Kyle Landrum, a second-semester team member, emerged as a standout performer, participating in persuasive speaking, extemporaneous speaking, and impromptu events. Landrum has consistently led the team in awards this semester. At the Bernacchi Invitational, he claimed first place in persuasive speaking, first in impromptu, and second in extemporaneous speaking on the first day of the competition.

Newcomers Jack Abdulaziz and Julia Irvine also made a significant impact, earning multiple awards. Irvine's achievements included first place in poetry for two consecutive days, as well as first in speech to entertain and first in dramatic interpretation. Abdulaziz earned six awards over the tournament, including second in poetry for two days and several other second and third-place finishes.

Individual Awards Won by Butte College Students:

Persuasive Speaking:
1st place - Kyle Landrum
3rd place - Jack Abdulaziz

Novice Persuasive Speaking:
3rd place - Raimu Uema
Finalist - Kayla Selvey

Program Oral Interpretation:
1st place - Abel Chavez
2nd place - Nami Dankers-Yasskin

Extemporaneous Speaking:
2nd place - Kyle Landrum

Dramatic Interpretation:
2nd place - Julia Irvine

Prose Interpretation:
2nd place - Raimu Uema

Poetry Interpretation:
1st place - Julia Irvine
2nd place - Jack Abdulaziz

After Dinner Speaking:
1st Place - Julia Irvine
2nd Place - Abel Chavez
Finalist - Austin Bower

Impromptu Speaking:
1st place - Kyle Landrum

Novice Impromptu Speaking:
Finalist - Jack Abdulaziz
Finalist - Austin Bower

Informative Speaking:
Finalist ­- Robert Smallman

Novice Persuasive Speaking:
1st place - Raimu Uema
2nd place - Kayla Selvey

Open Persuasive Speaking:
2nd place - Jack Abdulaziz

Dramatic Interpretation:
1st place - Julia Irvine

Novice Informative:
Finalist - Kayla Selvey

Poetry Interpretation:
1st place - Julia Irvine
2nd place - Jack Abdulaziz

After Dinner Speaking:
Finalist - Austin Bower

Novice Impromptu Speaking:
2nd place - Jack Abdulaziz
Finalist - Austin Bower

The team will host a showcase of their award-winning events on Tuesday, December 5, from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. at the Campus Center lounge in the main campus, 3536 Butte Campus Dr. Oroville, CA.

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