Digital media major Jasmine Vasquez was unexpectedly approached one day last year by her professor after delivering her speech on how to make a plush dinosaur. Now, she’s preparing to start her second semester with the Vocal Vikings, Del Mar’s forensics team.
“I was very nervous because I had never done it before,” Vasquez said about stepping out of her comfort zone.
For her first event with the forensics team Vasquez found herself participating in poetry and enacting a piece out of the novel “Impulse” by Ellen Hopkins.
“Last semester I did poetry, which I really did enjoy — not only competing but watching others,” Vasquez said.
The Vocal Vikings is Del Mar’s speech and debate team and is coached by Sarah Contreras, professor of speech communications.
According to Contreras, creating the forensics team was one of her initial projects.
“I was hired to create a forensics team,” Contreras said.
The Vocal Vikings helps build several skills such as communication, teamwork and self-confidence, Contreras said.
The group of students compete in numerous tournaments at different universities that include events such as informative speaking, persuasive speaking, after dinner speaking, poetry interpretation, parliamentary debates and more. The team travels to universities all over Texas to compete in tournaments. Their nationals is set to be held in Reno, Nevada, in April 2024.
Any student, regardless of being enrolled in a speech class, can join the team.
“At this time given the budget that I have I like to keep my team to a maximum of eight people,” Contreras said.
Paralegal studies major Rebecca Farias joined the Vocal Vikings in the summer. Farias also participated in her high school speech and debate team.
Farias said she learned about the Vocal Vikings while serving cotton candy to students for a fundraiser because she overheard Contreras talking about the team.
“It sounded like everything I loved about high school competitive speech and debate but now it’s at a college level,” said Farias, who added that the people are friendlier at the college level than at the high school level.
The Vocal Vikings have two tournaments coming up, one in October and one in November. The team meets once a week and is free to join. Del Mar College covers all expenses such as transportation, housing and meals.
Students interested in the forensics team are encouraged to contact Contreras at slcontrer@delmar.edu for more information.
