Solano Speech and Debate Wins Gold at the 2023 National Championship

NEWS RELEASE – For immediate release
Date: April 17, 2023
Organization: Solano Community College
Contact: Celia Esposito-Noy, Ed.D.
Email: Celia.Esposito-Noy@solano.edu

Fairfield, CA – The Solano Community College Solano Speech and Debate Team is proud to
announce that it is the 2023 Phi Rho Pi Community College National Champion! The Phi Rho Pi
national championship tournament was held from April 10th – 15th in Washington, D.C. Over
sixty of the top community colleges from every region in the country competed. The Solano
Falcons won Gold Overall Sweepstakes, Gold Debate Sweepstakes, and Gold Individual
Sweepstakes in the small school division. The success occurred due to the determination, skills,
and intelligence of the four amazing students that participated and made it into a semi-final or
final round.

Solano Community College’s graduating members: James Baird, won a silver and bronze medal
at the tournament and will be attending Concordia University on scholarship next year, Sarah
Campi won a bronze medal and is currently choosing between some of the top debate schools in
the region. Shavon Odom, co-captain of the team, won a bronze and silver medal, and Frida
Torres, who is in her second semester, won two bronze medals at the tournament. “The coaching
staff is incredibly proud for all of the hard work that our students have put in their rounds and in
the classrooms. They have truly made the Solano Community proud,” says Douglas Mungin,
Professor of Communication and Co-Director of the Speech and Debate team.
Below are the specific awards that the Solano Falcons won in addition to pictures from the
tournament week. If you know of any students who would be interested in joining the team,
please have them contact Dr. Douglas Mungin douglas.mungin@solano.edu.

Gold Hindman Debate
mall School Sweepstakes
Gold Hindman Individual Small School Sweepstakes
Gold Hindman Division Overall Small School Sweepstakes
Silver Informative Speaking – Shavon Odom
Silver IPDA Debate – James Baird
Bronze Informative Speaking – Frida Torres
Bronze Persuasive Speaking – Frida Torres
Bronze IPDA Debate – Sarah Campi
Bronze Prose – James Baird
Bronze Impromptu – Shavon Odom