Members of the Moraine Valley Community College Forensics Team include (back row from left to right) Zinnia Lampkins, Sidney Bullock, James Smith, Curtis Griffin, Kacey Nichols, and John Nash, director of Forensics and Communications professor; (front row from left to right) Krista Appelquist, assistant coach; Amanda Pettigrew, assistant coach; Damian Samsonowicz, Haley Carrero, Stephanie McFann, and Kirsten Baity. The team won second place and more than 10 medals at the national tournament April 9 to 15, in Tysons Corner, Va.
The Moraine Valley Community College Forensics Team earned the silver team medal at the Phi Rho Pi Speech and Debate National Tournament April 9 to 15, in Tysons Corner, Virginia.
Eleven events advanced into the semi-final round, and three of those advanced to the final round earning gold, silver and bronze medals. In addition, John Nash, director of the Forensics program and communications professor, earned the Phi Rho Pi 2017 Distinguished Service Award.
Gold medalists were Zinnia Lampkins, of Blue Island, for Prose Interpretation; and Damian Samsonowicz, of Bridgeview, and Curtis Griffin, of Richton Park, for Duo Interpretation. A silver medal was awarded to Stephanie McFann, of Oak Lawn, for Impromptu.
Bronze medalists included Griffin for Poetry Interpretation, Lampkins for Speech to Entertain, Sidney Bullock, of Calumet Park, for Speech to Entertain and Poetry Interpretation, Haley Carrero, of Orland Park, for Informative Speaking and Communication Analysis, Samsonowicz for Prose Interpretation, and McFann for Extemporaneous Speaking.
“This team never stopped believing in their messages,” Nash said. “I am extremely proud that they trusted their coaches, followed their hearts and supported each other.” In addition to Nash, the team is coached by Amanda Pettigrew, Krista Appelquist, associate professor of Communications, and Jeff Rieck.
