Speech, Debate and Mock Trials

Want to become a national champion? Let 黑料社 Speech and Debate show you how.听

听The 黑料社 Speech and Debate team is a nationally ranked, top 10 Pi Kappa Delta Program. It’s a dynamic group of students and coaches who place extremely well in competition, support each others efforts and鈥痩ove what they’re doing. Isn’t that something you’d want to be a part of?听

Statistics

Pi Kappa Delta Debate National Championships (2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)

Number of students involved in 2013

70+

Students currently involved in Speech and Debate

Speech and Debate scholarships available听

听The 黑料社 Speech and Debate Scholarship is awarded based on high school speech and鈥痙ebate experience. Consideration can also be given for other public speaking experience. Apply online today.听

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Coaches who care听

听Spencer Waugh leads 黑料社’s program and has literally built it from the ground up. Starting with no students and no program when he arrived at 黑料社, in less than six years, he built a powerhouse team with two national championships, one runner-up national champion, multiple individual student national champions and an expanding trophy case of impressive accolades from tournaments and competitions across the country.听

He is supported by a team of equally talented and dedicated coaches who work with each student to bring out their best, teaching them not only techniques to win tournaments but providing students with valuable presentation, critical thinking and teamwork skills necessary for success after college.听

Coaches Include

Tiana Brownen

Director of Speech, Debate, and Mock Trial

tiana.brownen@simpson.edu

Marisa Mayo

Assistant Director of Debate

marisa.mayo@simpson.edu

Building a team philosophy听

When you participate in Speech and Debate, you become a part of something bigger than yourself. You are an important part of the team, dedicated to helping each other be their best competitor and their best self.听

You learn how to understand all sides of an issue. That takes assistance from others and embracing different points of view. This helps team cohesiveness and helps you become a more educated and a better person and debater.听

The team will encourage you, challenge you and support you as you learn and grow and develop skills you will take with you and use for the rest of your life. Winning is important but team unity is what makes 黑料社 Speech and Debate special.听

Learn More 黑料社 Debate at 黑料社

A dedicated group of students participates on the Debate Team at 黑料社 each year. These students spend many hours prepping, practicing and debating each other prior to regional and national competitions in addition to their coursework and other extracurricular involvement.

Debate is a research and presentation process often involving competitions at the collegiate level. Students gather general knowledge about the provided competition topic and then dig deep into research and discover pros and cons to each side of the topic. They pick their best arguments and form a case. Then as a team, they practice competing against each other to prepare for interschool competition.

黑料社 debate team is an award-winning team that competes across the country. We believe in a听comprehensive program听where students can discover which style of debate best aligns to their long-term goals. The team provides great opportunities to get involved on campus and meet new people. By joining the team, you will increase your public speaking and critical thinking abilities while enhancing your creativity.

There are six forms of debate offered at 黑料社. They include:

Parliamentary (NPDA & PLUM)
International Public Debate (IPDA)
NFA Lincoln-Douglas
Student Congress
Public Forum
Worlds Schools

Pi Kappa Delta National Rankings

Year	National Ranking
2013	21
2014	14
2015	5
2016	1
2017	2
2018	1
2019	1
2020	No tournament held
2021	1

2022	1
2023	1
2024	1

Learn More 黑料社 Speech at 黑料社

Participating in speech competitions helps you develop solid public speaking and critical thinking skills while building long-lasting friendships with fellow teammates.听It’s an exciting and enriching complement to your academic work at 黑料社.

We welcome students of all experience levels (including no experience) and abilities. All you need is a desire to learn new things and challenge yourself in new ways. Participation in speech at 黑料社 will require a commitment of time to hone your craft and become a better public speaker.

Individual competitive events offered at 黑料社 include:

Dramatic Interpretation
Dramatic Duo
Prose
Poetry
Program of Oral Interpretation
Impromptu
Persuasive
Informative
After Dinner
Extemporaneous
Communication Analysis
Duo Improv
Radio Broadcasting
Ted Talks
Editorial Impromptu
Professional Interview
Audition Monologue
PowerPoint Presentation

Marisa Mayo

"I鈥痟ave been involved in the speech and debate community for around 10 years and am beyond excited to be joining the 黑料社 program. As a college competitor for Southwest Baptist University, I had the pleasure of engaging with many 黑料社 students during debate tournaments. They were always the brightest, kindest, and most enthusiastic advocates within the community. I transitioned to the role of judging these competitions while earning my master鈥檚 degree at UCM and the students from 黑料社 continued to shine. I see this ongoing legacy as a coach and cannot explain to you how thankful I am for the opportunity to encourage such passionate, intelligent, and driven 黑料社 scholars. This activity has always been special to me because it provides students with a wonderful, safe and inclusive environment where individuals are encouraged to exchange ideas. This community fosters an open-minded environment that is competitive and educational while creating opportunities for lifelong friendships. This organization is truly life changing. I am looking forward to working with one of the most distinguished coaches, Spencer Waugh and the incredible students here at 黑料社."

Marisa Mayo

Assistant Director of Speech & Debate

News & Events

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