The Moraine Valley Community College Speech and Debate Team reached a historic milestone this month, sending its first student to a national oratory competition while earning top finishes across multiple events.
Competing at Prairie State College during the Illinois Intercollegiate Forensics Association State Tournament on March 6 and 7, the team delivered one of its strongest performances to date, highlighted by Aaron Vinicio Lopez’s breakthrough achievement.
Lopez, of Bridgeview, earned a coveted spot at the upcoming Interstate Oratorical Association national tournament in April. The honor is reserved for the top two orators in the state, marking the first time a Moraine Valley student has qualified.
“Every college who does persuasion covets the honor of representing Illinois at the Interstate Oratory Association – this was a huge honor for Moraine Valley,” said Krista Appelquist, Communications professor and director/co-coach of Forensics. “Lopez works so hard on his speeches, from research to delivery. He faced intense competition and impressed everyone.”
The team’s success extended across multiple events. Laura Galindo of Burbank took first place in prose interpretation. Javier Ramirez of Alsip earned first place in both oratory and communication analysis, along with a fourth-place finish in speech to entertain and fifth in dramatic interpretation.
Lopez also earned second place in oratory and placed fourth in after-dinner speaking.
Magali Garcia of Summit placed second in program of oral interpretation and teamed with Alexandra Zepeda for third in duo interpretation. Zepeda also earned sixth place in poetry.
Andrew Banaszak of Bridgeview placed third in extemporaneous speaking and fifth in communication analysis. Tuana Ozbir of Palos Hills took third in debate and added placements in impromptu speaking, duo interpretation and informative speaking. Amin Trekrour of Oak Lawn earned fifth in oratory, while Kandyce Swain of Blue Island placed fifth in informative speaking. Aya Mustafa of Palos Heights secured sixth-place finishes in communication analysis and duo interpretation alongside Ozbir.
As a team, Moraine Valley placed first in the community college division and fourth overall in the open division, finishing alongside competitors from four-year institutions across the state.
Participating schools included Bradley University, Illinois State University, Northern Illinois University, Northwestern University and University of Illinois Chicago, among others.
Coaches attending the tournament included Appelquist, John Nash and Damian Samsonowicz.