Mission Viejo, CA – Led by Coaches Larry Radden, Heidi Ochoa and Erin McAlear, the Saddleback College Forensics Team earned a sixth place Wyman Overall Sweepstakes Award and tied for fourth place for a Wyman Individual Events Sweepstakes Award at the 2011 Phi Rho Pi Tournament in Greenwich, Connecticut on April 8th-16th.
Dr. Tod A. Burnett, President of Saddleback College, stated, “Bravo to our forensics team students and coaches for capturing bronze overall and gold for Readers Theater at the national tournament. Our forensics team demonstrates perennial success because of the hard work and talent of all involved. I am thoroughly impressed by the caliber of the entire team and know that the skills these students have developed will serve them well in their future educational and professional endeavors.”
“This was the most amazing Phi Rho Pi in recent history. We had an equal combination of both veterans and first semester competitors and aside from the amazing outcomes, the students presented us with only the paramount of ethics, compliance and fellowship. We all worked so well together and were also so supportive in the process that it makes me smile! One of my personal highlights was the Gold in Readers Theatre for the production of ‘Skinny.’ There were 19 readers theatres at the competition and I only saw the finest from across the nation. With that said; this is the first Gold that Saddleback has had at nationals in this event in the past six years. Hat’s off to our outstanding cast,” said Larry Radden, Co-director of Forensics.
“It is with strong emotion that I express my admiration for the students of the 2010-2011 Saddleback Forensics Team. The collaborative energy between them contributed to the strength of their creativity in practice and execution in competitive rounds. Coaches Larry Radden, Erin McAlear, and I were overwhelmingly pleased with our professional and personal growth this year. It has been an absolute honor to serve this particular group of students. It has also been an honor to continue to serve a college comprised of leaders like the students of the Associated Student Government, President Tod Burnett, and Dean Bart McHenry, whom compassionately support our students efforts,” said Heidi Ochoa, Co-director of Forensics
Erin McAlear, Assistant Director of Forensics, also added, “I am so proud of our students’ accomplishments at the national tournament. Their dedication to and support of the team made this a special year that I was glad to be a part of.”
Congratulations to our winners:
Bronze Medalist in Communication Analysis, Andrew Ronquillo
Bronze Medalist in Communication Analysis, Melisa Seyhun
Bronze Medalist in Dramatic Interpretation, Kelly Johnson
Bronze Medalist in Dramatic Interpretation, Kamelle Leggette
Bronze Medalist in Dramatic Interpretation, Ambrose Cappuccio
Gold Medalist in Informative Speaking, Leah Bowman
Gold Medalist in Persuasive Speaking, Leah Bowman
Silver Medalist in Poetry Interpretation, Chelsea Martin
Silver Medalist in Poetry Interpretation, Melisa Seyhun
Silver Medalist in Programmed Oral Interpretation, Chelsea Martin
Bronze Medalist in Prose Interpretation, Ambrose Cappuccio
Bronze Medalist in Prose Interpretation, Josh Guliuzza
Gold Medalist in Prose Interpretation, Kamelle Leggette
Silver Medalist in Speech to Entertain, Josh Guliuzza
Silver Medalist in Speech to Entertain, Leah Bowman
Gold Medalist in Readers’ Theatre titled “Skinny” starting Josh Guliuzza, Lauren Bledsoe, and Ambrose Cappuccio
The Saddleback Forensics Team started in the 1970s and prides itself on offering students the ability to create innovative arguments for future writing and speaking engagements to strengthen their critical thinking skills, and to better communicate with others.
Located in Mission Viejo, Saddleback College provides quality higher education and training to the greater south Orange County community. Having served more than 500,000 students since 1968, Saddleback College offers over 300 degree and certificate programs to help students reach their personal, career, and educational goals. For more information, please visit www.saddleback.edu and for Fine Arts information, please visit www.saddleback.edu/arts.
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Nina Welch
Fine Arts Public Information Officer
Saddleback College
28000 Marguerite Parkway
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
www.saddleback.edu/arts
