Lawrence E. Jones Takes Home Speech and Debate Tournament Awards

Cool accomplishment at Lawrence E. Jones Middle School:

For the sixth consecutive year, students from Rohnert Park competed in the annual speech and debate tournament at St. Vincent De Paul High School in Petaluma, and Lawrence Jones Middle School students won the FIRST PLACE SWEEPSTAKES! Congratulations are in order to all 24 students who entered the March 17 tournament in one of four individual categories and/or debate while competing against students from seven other middle schools. 

Events included dramatic interpretation, humorous interpretation, expository and persuasive. The first two required the students to develop a six to eight-minute speech taken from a play, story, dialogue or monologue with the speaker required to act out all of the characters and parts. 

The latter two were six to eight-minute original speeches that the kids wrote to either inform or persuade about a particular idea, activity, event or issue. Each of the students was required to memorize and deliver their speeches in three preliminary rounds, and the top scorers qualified for the final round. 

This was an outstanding opportunity for students to get practice presenting in front of small groups of people and to learn about the possibilities for forensic speaking and competitions during their high school and college careers.  Many were able to learn that they had talents and abilities that they had not previously considered. Others had a fun time just being part of the happening while representing our school in a positive and productive activity.

Twelve students made it to the final rounds of the individual events. They are:

• Alex Banning
• Missy Murillo          
  
• Tori Kolybakos
• Rachel Souza
• Morgan Nelson 
  
• Grace Kouch                       
  
• Ashley Hupp               
  
• Teman Goller
• Madyson Smith
• Katherine Baney
• Mary Nguyen
• Liam Reynolds                                                                    

Additionally, recognition goes to 10 LJMS students who participated in the debate competition against 23 two-person teams. These teams researched and developed affirmative and negative arguments for a national policy topic—Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase funding for the colonization of space beyond the Earth’s mesosphere. Out of 46 debaters, special recognition went to the top 10 performers. Mary Nguyen was ranked 6 and Rachel Evans was ranked 7.

• Derek and Doug Dang finished 4-0 as the only undefeated team in the tournament.

• Morgan Nelson and Rachel Evans finished with a winning record of 3-1.

• Katherine Baney and Alex Banning also finished with a winning record of 3-1.

 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL PARTICIPATING JAGUARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!