LAVC Speech & Debate Team Win National Medals at 2026 Phi Rho Pi Forensic Tournament

Pictured from left to right: LAVC Speech Team's Amy Llamas, Amna Shah, and Arpi Danielyan with their medals at the 2026 Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Competition.

The LAVC Speech & Debate Team brought home with four prestigious awards and a team trophy at the 2026 Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Competition in Washington DC. The following student received awards:

• Arpi Danielyan - Gold Medal, International Public Debate (IPDA)

• Amy Llamas - Silver medal, IPDA

• Amna Shah - Silver medal, IPDA

• Amna Shah & Arpi Danielyan - Bronze medal, Parliamentary Debate

In addition, the Speech & Debate team earned a Team Trophy in Debate Sweepstakes. The members of the team included Arpi Danielyan, Bree Hatcher, Amy Llamas, Emily Merino, Amna Shah & Jasmine Varkey.

Pictured from left to right: LAVC Speech & Debate Team's Amna Shah, Bree Hatcher, Amy Llamas, Arpi Danielyan, Jasmine Varkey, and Emily Merino at the 2026 Phi Rho Pi National Forensics Competition in Washington, DC.

Phi Rho Pi hosts the national forensics tournament for junior colleges. LAVC's Speech and Debate Team has participated in the competition since the 1970s, and many of its team members have earned top awards over the years, including the team being the tournament champions in 1999, 2008 and 2009.

For more information about the LAVC Speech & Debate Team, visit the LAVC Communications Studies Area of Study.