The El Camino College debate team recently finished the most successful season in its history, winning all four national championships, the first time this feat has been accomplished by any team. Each year, the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) awards two national titles, one for the community college that finishes the highest in the season-long sweepstakes, and one for the college that finishes the highest at the national tournament. For the first time in NPDA history, El Camino College won both titles.
The ECC team also won the NPDA National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence, finishing with the best record of any community college. Additionally, the debate duo of Zara Andrabi and Curtis Wang ended the year ranked eighth nationwide, including all four-year college and university teams. The team also won the Phi Rho Pi national championship for debate. Phi Rho Pi is the community college national tournament, held last month in Washington, D.C.
A perennial powerhouse, the ECC debate team dominated the competition all year. Throughout the season, the team was the No. 1 ranked community college in the nation. The rankings, determined by the NPDA, also ranked El Camino College No. 4 among four-year colleges and universities. Congratulations to our debate team and coaches: professor Francesca Bishop, director of forensics, and debate professors Mark Crossman and Joseph Evans.