Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team co-captain Tyler Orel won the peer-voted Don Haggarty Award from the Phi Rho Pi Region IV Tournament.
Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team co-captain Tyler Orel, of Bridgeview, was awarded the peer-voted Don Haggarty Award while helping his team win a gold medal at the Phi Rho Pi Region IV Tournament in late March.
This award is voted on by all competitors and given to the student who best embodies the elements of speech and debate. Three Moraine Valley students have won this honor since 2010.
“In a virtual world of speech and debate competition, it is hard to connect with others. Tyler has that ability to connect with people even through a screen. He is one of the most caring and selfless people I know, and winning this award affirms that,” said John Nash, Moraine Valley communications professor and co-coach of the team. “It is a true honor when your peers recognize you.”
The Moraine Valley team finished the regular competitive season winning the overall gold medal at the tournament, which includes any community college in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, North Dakota and Minnesota. Members of the team include Orel, Noor Awaidah, of Oak Lawn; Trystan Julian, of Crete; Alexis Lyons, of Orland Park; Aidan McGuire, of Mokena; and co-captain Shelby Woody, of Homer Glen.
Orel said he is focused more on his teammates succeeding than him earning an additional award. He didn’t quite understand why he was given the honor until Nash explained it was because he stays up until 2 or 3 a.m. to work on speeches weeks in advance to perfect them, pulls speeches up on his phone anywhere to rewrite, practice or memorize them, and always tries to be the best version of himself.
“I had a mixed reaction to the award because I think my co-captain should’ve gotten it. I can talk a lot about whatever anyone else has accomplished, but I won’t ever take the credit,” Orel said. “I don’t need recognition for the work I do. I just want everyone around me to believe in themselves. I love watching people grow around me.”
