Skip to Content

Highland Speech Team meets with success heading into a national competition

Closeup of a Highland Community College building with greenery.

The Highland Community College Speech Team attended the Phi Rho Pi Region IV Tournament on Saturday, March 25 hosted at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Ill.

Phi Rho Pi is the national organization for community college forensics teams, and teams are separated into geographic regions (Region IV is made up of primarily Illinois schools). The regional tournament represents the “last stop” on the road to the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament.

“Once again, students on the Highland Speech and Debate Team demonstrated their strong work ethic, commitment to craft, and exceptional overall character,” said Speech Communication Instructor Harry Bodell. “They have formed bonds with students across the region that will help them stay strong at nationals, and most importantly they have formed deep bonds with one another. Our team is a family, and I couldn’t be prouder of how they have come together this season.”

Participating HCC students received the following recognitions:

Communication Analysis

Brooke Allison Parkinson, Gold Medalist

Mason McIntyre, Bronze Medalist

Duo Interpretation

Maddie Eppenstein and Ruby Snyder, Bronze Medalists

Impromptu Speaking

Mason McIntyre, Silver Medalist

Informative Speaking

Mason McIntyre, Silver Medalist

Persuasive Speaking

Ruby Snyder, Silver Medalist

Poetry Interpretation

Olivia Wilhelms, Bronze Medalist

Prose Interpretation

Brooke Allison Parkinson, Gold Medalist

Team Sweepstakes

Individual Events, Bronze Medalists

The Bronze Medalists team will wrap up the season by traveling to Washington, D.C. from April 8-15 for the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament.

For more on the Highland Speech Team, email Harry Bodell at harry.bodell@highland.edu.

Team Picture (L to R): Brooke Allison Parkinson, Tabitha Roenneburg, Olivia Wilhelms, Maddie Eppenstein, Ruby Snyder, Maria Bender, Mason McIntyre