File photo: Phillips in 2013

The COC Speech Team ended its local tournament season Feb. 23 with a historic win at the PSCFA Spring Championships, held at Moorpark College. Hillary Phillips was COC’s first ever competitor to win a portion of the Bovero Memorial Award.

The award annually honors those students who have demonstrated consistent success at tournaments over two years, active in their community, assist coaches and lead their team, foster great citizenship with other teams at tournaments, and help promote speech competition overall.

After winning 2nd place, Hillary Phillips flashed her usual glowing smile as she recounted seeing people win the Bovero Award in her first year, saying: “I just realized that I remember whispering to myself last year, ‘I want to win that award.’

The Bovero Memorial award was inaugurated in memory of Carl Bovero, former President of PSCFA and the National President of Phi Ro Pi, who died in a freeway accident on the way home after working with his team.

Team Director, Michael Leach, knew she had a strong possibility to win the award, explaining: “It’s one thing to win, which she has a lot… but for how thankful she is to the coaching staff, and the joy she brings to tournaments for her teammates, as well as other teams, we all feel honored to have her be part of our family.”

In addition to this honor, Hillary also advanced to five of eight possible final rounds this season. Joining Phillips in her achievements is Linda Giron, who advanced to a final round at both the PSCFA Fall and Spring Championships.

The team is excited to compete at the CCCFA State Tournament in March. Joining Phillips and Giron on the seven person roster are all first year members, including Cladellain David, Kyle Duffy, Rachel Brown, Chris Mundy and Kristina Ewing.

Winning continues to be part of COC’s tradition because of the incredible alumni coaching in Assistant Coaches Simon Kern (5 years), Loretta Rowley (3 years), Shawn Kern (1 year), as well as the ongoing contributions from 9-year Assistant Coach, Tony Laschi.

The COC Speech Team is thankful for all the ongoing support from the Chancellor’s office, the Office of Instruction, the COC Foundation, Fiscal Services, the Social Sciences and Business Division, and the Department of Communication Studies.