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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Christian Gutierrez
Public Relations Officer
Butte College
3536 Butte Campus Drive
Oroville, CA 95965
Content editor:
Christian Gutierrez
530-895-2959