Rollicking performances by DVC’s best public speakers and debaters drew a crowd of more than 300 people April 14 to the Performing Arts Center.

Four previous award winners presented their best work in a lead-up to DVC’s top debate teams battling it out to be named No. 1.

The individual speakers included Kyle Sasai, Dillon Pulos, Natalie Meany and Julie George.

Sasai, 16, kicked off the evening with a passionate speech about human trafficking and the significance of the problem in the United States.

Pulos was given two minutes to prepare a five-minute speech, its topic chosen by the audience. His subsequent speech on “learning from your mistakes,” with references to Tiger Woods, drew a huge round of applause.

George drew peals of laughter during her speech on parental dating, while Meany delivered one in which she played four different characters, maintaining each personality up to an emotional and surprising ending.

The night’s highlight was the debate on whether general education requirements should be eliminated.  Tiger Hays- Lohrey and James Michaelson teamed up against Dillon Pulos and Cesyli Bruno.

After both teams scored solid points, the audience indicated the winner through its applause: Hays-Lohrey and Michaelson.

“We were very satisfied with having everyone up there,” said speech and debate coach John Hanecak.

He praised the “tremendous development” of the students, who went from giving speeches in Speech 120 to addressing an audience of 300.   

Sasai, the team’s youngest speaker was also enthusiastic.

“Nothing beats giving a speech to a really supportive home crowd,” he said. “[It is] definitely one of the best times I’ve given it.”

Contact Carrie Soldati at [email protected]