Buzzz In Brief: MJC speech, healthy lifestyle, national honors

Modesto Junior College's speech and debate team took second place among community colleges and four-year universities at its second tournament of the season Oct. 19-21 at Diablo Valley College.

The MJC team vied among 24 two- and four-year colleges and universities.

The debate sweepstakes was earned through the Octo-finalist finishes in open parliamentary debate of Saint Mary's High graduate Wes Vierra and Sierra Valley Charter graduate Daniel Enas, Beyer High graduate Nick Brummel and Ryan Reid, and the novice parliamentary debate Octo-finalist Modesto High graduate Kelly Gay Cearley and Downey High graduate Michael Gonzales.

The highest honor went to the debate team of Jacob Macdonald, an Oakdale Charter student, and Amy Scoggins, a graduate of Davis High.

Amy and Jacob took second place in novice parliamentary debate by going undefeated until the final round.

The most celebrated MJC student in individual events was Carrie Gendle, a graduate of Covenant Christian Academy, with her first-place finish in open impromptu speaking, third place in prose interpretation of literature and first place in duo interpretation with her partner, Enoch's graduate Aaron Wall.

Many of these students won multiple honors.

Awards also went to Escalon High graduate Emily Akers — eighth place speaker award in novice debate — and Nick Brummel, who took second place in open persuasive speaking.

Running the district

Ceres Unified Superintendent Scott Siegel outpaced Blaker- Kinser Junior High students in a one-mile run to promote healthy life styles last month.

"None of the students were able to beat him on this day, but many are working at currently working on beating his posted time of 6:21," said Principal Kristi Britton. First-period physical education students who ran against Siegel said it was a great way to start the day. Seventh-grader José Lomeli, whose best time was 8:40 before the race, said running "gives you energy to do things like learning."

Nationally merited

These high school students made the commended list of National Merit Scholarship contests based on PSAT scores. Beyer: Carolyn Murphy and Alex O'Brien; Enochs: Csilla Richmond; Modesto: Brynna Bolt, Daniel Standard, Walter Sorenson, William Shewfelt and Chace Shaw, also a National Merit Achievement Recipient.

These students made the list of National Merit semifinalists: Austin Tutorow from Beyer; Eva Brotslaw and James Zhou from Modesto High.