By - Lesley Dawson
The UP Speech and Debate Union competed in its second tournament of the year at the Smelt Classic at Lower Columbia College in Longview, Wash., Nov. 4 and 5, taking home several team and individual awards, including the coveted Sweepstakes Award.
"We performed the best out of any college there," sophomore Philippe Boutros said.
The Sweepstakes Award was based on the total number of points that all members of the team accumulated at the tournament.
UP took home four individual awards. Freshman Katie Wilson, a third speaker for novice Individual Parliamentary Debate Association (IPDA), received silver in novice IPDA and gold in novice impromptu debate. Boutros received silver in novice impromptu and junior Beau Woodward received silver in open IPDA.
Team awards went to Boutros and sophomore Katie Husk, who received gold in novice British Parliamentary style debate (BP) and sophomores John Russell and Logan Heyerly, who received bronze in novice BP.
Communication studies professor Brian Simmons, who is filling in for communication studies professor Bohn Lattin as the debate coach, believes the UP Speech and Debate program is growing in ways it has not in the past.
"The success that these students attained is a reflection of the work they put in and the talent they have," Simmons said. "They do this for the love of the event and I'm proud of them."
"It is the classic story of an underdog team coming out on top despite all odds," Boutros said. "We are excited as a team to go ahead and excel again."
Their next tournament is Dec. 3 and 4 at Clark College in Vancouver, Wash.
