College of Western Idaho (CWI) Speech and Debate brought home a number of individual awards on its way to a second place finish among community colleges at the Linfield College Mahaffey Memorial in McMinnville, Oregon. The 86th Mahaffey Memorial was held Nov. 17-21 and featured 31 teams from two- and four-year schools. CWI sent 19 students to participate in the event, including 11 competing for the first time this semester.
Among the awards celebrated by the team was a Junior Poetry victory for new competitor Aleli Snively. She achieved an incredibly rare feat; receiving first place in all preliminary and final rounds of the event. “My success at the tournament was a culmination of my teammates individual talents, shared with me through extensive coaching and patience” says Aleli. “They worked hard to foster the success I had at the tournament, and I’m incredibly grateful.”