Strong Showing for McFarland at First Migrant Regional Speech and Debate Tournament

Nearly 30 migrant students from across Kern County went head-to-head Saturday in the region’s first-ever speech and debate competition explicitly geared toward them. After several months of planning, preparing, and practice, middle and high school students from McFarland, Arvin, and Fairfax school districts gave their prepared and extemporaneous speeches, and participated in debate in both English and Spanish categories.

“It’s really exciting because, in the past, our numbers of interested students were so low, it didn’t warrant the competition,” said Evaristo Trevino, director of the migrant education program with Kern County Superintendent of Schools (KCSOS).

Trevino said last year California held its first in-person migrant speech and debate competition since the COVID-19 pandemic, and five students from McFarland placed third in their category. The success of that tournament helped spark more interest in migrant students signing up for speech and debate. Trevino hopes it only grows from here.

“We’re hoping each year that the number of students interested expands. Today, we probably have about 28 participants; I would love to see 128 participants,” he said.

McFarland students represented the majority of first-place finishers.

In the extemporaneous speech category, students had ten minutes to view their topic and prepare notes before presenting a two-to- four minute speech.

Speech and debate tournaments are a fantastic way to enhance students’ confidence as well as critical thinking, research, and public speaking skills. While preparing for the competition, students learn to organize information, construct persuasive arguments, and work as a team.

First-place winners qualify for the California state tournament, which will be held in early May in Monterey County.

“They are already winners for just participating in today’s event because they’re tackling the fear of public speaking that we all have, and that’s really going to serve them well in their education moving forward,” Trevino said.

Results:

6th Grade Speech, English: Valeria Fernandez Ramirez – Shirley Lane Elementary (Fairfax)
6th Grade Speech, Spanish: Vanessa Iturralde – Kern Avenue Elementary (McFarland)
7th Grade Speech, English: Yareli Gutierrez Ibarra – Fairfax Junior High
7th Grade Speech, Spanish: Cristian Iturralde – McFarland Junior High
8th Grade Speech, English: Diana Teresa Garcia – Arvin Junior High
8th Grade Speech, Spanish: Luz Sanchez Romero – McFarland Junior High
10th Grade Speech, English: Samuel Velasco – McFarland High School
11th Grade Speech, English: Angel Medina – McFarland High School
12th Grade Speech, English: Jessenia Anaya – Wonderful Academy