Several students are breaking new ground in Unalaska as the first debate team in UCSD history, a fact that according to facilitator Lauren Snyder “is not up for debate.”
Snyder recently accompanied UCSD drama coach Carlos Tayag alongside a team of nine students to compete at the 2019 Drama, Debate, and Forensics State Championship in Anchorage from February 22-24th. To compete in the event, teams from around Alaska chose to prepare for various categories including, Policy Debate, Solo Acting, Original Oration, Dramatic Interpretation and even Pantomime.
The UCSD Drama, Debate, and Forensics team is comprised of Lily Mahoney, Zara Alvarado, Kala McDonald, Elizabeth Mears, LeeAnn Mears, Ethan Iszler, Bridget Savage, Denali Adams and Aleutia Peters. Many students from the team placed in the competition.
Iszler, Adams, Peters and Mahoney placed in the top ten for the Reader’s Theater category with a piece entitled, "Tammy: the Story of a Teenage Girl Who is Part T-Rex," by Julia Weiss.
Kala McDonald came in eighth place for the Dramatic Interpretation category, followed by teammates Elizabeth Mears (9th) and LeeAnn Mears (10th).
The UCSD team also competed in the Duo Interpretation category (Mears and Mears), the Humorous Interpretation category (Adams and Savage) and the Public Forum Debate (Alvarado and Savage).
Overall, Snyder and Tayag were pleased with the team’s participation at the State Championships.
“We are so proud of our school and our team for their hard work and determination this year,” Snyder said.
The drama team will put on a production sometime this spring, with more details to come in the following weeks.
