The Modesto Junior College Speech Team returned from the Phi Rho Pi National Tournament, held April 13-20, with three students winning awards.  Jon Cottrell earned the first place gold medal in NFA Lincoln/Douglas Debate (a one-on-one style of debate) and also took a third place bronze medal with his partner Rebecca Benjamin in Parliamentary Team Debate.  Danielle Lawson brought home two second place silver medals in Dramatic Interpretation and Prose Interpretation.

            MJC Speech Team's head coach, Todd Guy, was even more proud of the scholarship honors four of his students earned outside of competition.  Rebecca Benjamin and Jennifer Ramirez have been offered full-ride scholarships to University of the Pacific because of their year-long success on the Speech Team, Danielle Lawson received $3,000 from Point Loma University with the understanding that she will also receive a full-ride scholarship if she agrees to attend the university, and Jon Cottrell has been offered a scholarship to attend Concordia University in Irvine.   

            The scholarships acknowledge the performance of these students over the past year of competition, and also highlight that they are well-rounded competitors who excel in a variety of speech and debate events.

            "Ultimately, this is truly what I want for all my students.  What an amazing opportunity," said Coach Guy.