Our History of Excellence

Concordia University Irvine Forensics

Since its founding in 2007, Concordia’s forensics team has become the premier full-service forensics team in the western United States. Our full-service forensics squad consistently places in the top 10 rankings nationwide in speech and debate events. Our talented coaching staff ensures you will receive one-on-one attention while thriving among your peers. While we love winning trophies, we are most concerned with teaching our students to become wise, honorable, and cultivated citizens after graduation.

Debate team trophies

Debate Team Does It Again!

Forensics Scholarships

We offer scholarships for participation up to $8,000 annually based on need and merit. Fill out the application prior to the February 8, 2020 deadline for priority consideration.

Scholarship Application

What Students are Saying

Coaching Staff

Concordia University Irvine is exceedingly proud of the men and women who comprise the coaching staff. Each week, these men and women give countless hours to students. Here is a little bit more about them.

Amanda Ozaki-Laughon

Amanda Ozaki-Laughon

Director of Forensics

amanda.ozaki@cui.edu

Tyler Watkins

Tyler Watkins

Director of Individual Events

tyler.watkins@cui.edu

Benjamin Lange

Benjamin Lange

Director of Debate

benjamin.lange@cui.edu

Joseph Laughon

Joseph Laughon

Assistant Director of Debate

View Full Bios

Events Offered

  • National Parliamentary Debate
  • Lincoln Douglas Debate
  • Drama Interpretation
  • Prose Interpretation
  • Extemporaneous Speaking
  • Communication Analysis
  • Dramatic Duo
  • Impromptu Speaking
  • Persuasive Speaking
  • Poetry Interpretation
  • After Dinner Speaking
  • Informative Speaking
  • Program Oral Interpretation

Our Individual Events Program

According to a growing body of research, public speaking and communication skills are essential for career success. Our individual events program teaches students to overcome their fears of public speaking, while honing competition and research skills that will last a lifetime. We have placed 1st over 156 times, advanced at national tournaments over 72 times, and advanced at tournaments over 1,716 times in the history of our program. For the past 3 years, our program has ranked in the top 10 individual events programs in the country.

Our Debate Program

The political landscape in the United States changes quickly. Our debate program empowers students to stay informed and up-to-date on the current political climate with critical thinking skills and award-winning research techniques. Concordia University Irvine Debate holds two national sweepstakes championships from the National Parliamentary Debate Association, and the National Round Robin 2018 Top Speaker title. Our program is the only team in the country to place students in the top 8 nationwide five years in a row.

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National Titles Held

1st Place

1st Place

2019 Pacific Southwest Collegiate Forensics Spring Championships

2nd Place

2nd Place

2019 National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA) Sweepstakes
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6th Place

2019 National Speech Championship

7th Place

2019 National Forensics Association

1st Place

1st Place

2018 National Round Robin Top Speaker
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2nd Place

2nd Place

2017 NPDA Sweepstakes

4th Place

2017 National Speech Championship

9th Place

2017 American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament

2nd Place

2nd Place

2016 NPDA Championship
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1st Place

1st Place

2015 NPDA Sweepstakes Championship
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2nd Place

2nd Place

2014 NPDA Sweepstakes
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1st Place

1st Place

2013 NPDA Sweepstakes Championship
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Where Are They Now?

Concordia University Irvine Forensics offers students a rigorous and competitive speech and debate program that teaches them top tier research and public speaking skills. These skills prepare them for law school, graduate school, professorships, and professional employment at prestigious universities and top-rated businesses across the country, as seen in the sampling of examples below.

Alumni Attending Law School

  • Baylor University School of Law
  • Duke University School of Law
  • Notre Dame University School of Law
  • The Antonin Scalia School of Law at George Mason University
  • University of California Los Angeles School of Law

Alumni Attending Graduate School

  • Arizona State University
  • Baylor University College of Medicine
  • CSU-Fullerton
  • New York University
  • Pepperdine University School of Business
  • University of California Irvine

Alumni at Work

  • 10th Circuit United States Court of Appeals
  • Director of Debate, Lewis and Clark College
  • Director of Debate, Grand Canyon University
  • Executive Director, Club Parli
  • Professor, Moorpark College
  • Professor, Glendale Community College
  • Logistics, Development & Policy Analysis, Daylight Transportation
  • Petty Officer, United States Navy
  • Research Policy Intern, Niskanen Center
  • Quantitative Analyst, RAND Corporation
  • Research Analyst, Santa Barbara Asset Management
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