SCJFL 3rd Quarter Debate Tournament at La Salle High School:

The third league tournament of the school year was held on 2/24 at La Salle High School in Pasadena. Kudos students won trophies in all four debate events. No other school won trophies in more than two debate events.

In public forum debate, three out of the six teams receiving trophies were Kudos teams. Emma Sieh and Christina Xu from the Temple City campus and Alex Fu and Sunny Sun and Ellie Jiang from the Irvine campus were all recognized with winning 4-1 records.
Christina Xu

Christina Xu and Emma Sieh

In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, Christina Feng was the tournament champion—the only debater finishing with a perfect 5-0 record. Maylin Chen also received a trophy for finishing with a winning 4-1 record.

In policy debate, Aaron Lee and Ethan Chang finished in first place.

In congressional debate, Christina Xu finished in third place. Justin Hong and Nicole Xu also reached the final round (top 12).

Aaron Lee CX w/ Ethan 1st
Ethan Chang CX w/ Aaron 1st
Emma Sieh PF w/ Christina Finalist (top 6)
Christina Xu PF w/ Emma Finalist (top 6)
Sunnie Sun PF w/ Ellie Finalist (top 6)
Ellie Jiang PF w/ Sunnie Finalist (top 6)
Alex Fu PF Finalist (top 6)
Christina Feng LD 1st
Maylin Chen LD Finalist (top 6)
Christina Xu Congress 3rd
Justin Hong Congress Finalist (top 12)
Nicole Xu Congress Finalist (top 12)

Trohies

Kudos Judges

第三次中學演講辯論聯盟的演講比賽於2/23號週五，位於Emerson 中學舉行

這次Kudos學生分別在許多項目有所斬獲更紛紛獲獎， 其中更有許多是第一次出賽的學生，雖是抱著觀摩的心情前去，但因課堂上老師奮力的教導， 學生投入的練習與配合， 讓這次比賽的過程既順利又刺激。

在國會辯論這項目， 來自Temple City的Gary Wong 與Robinson Lee在賽前就展現了十足的熱誠與幹勁，不只下課後與老師配合做額外的練習，賽前更是抓緊時間詳讀法案內容，這次比賽兩人以黑馬的姿態闖入決賽，更獲得獎盃鼓勵， 並告訴指導教練以後要下定決心往這條路耕耘，繼續參賽， 最後一起開心的合照。
Gary and Robinson

在雙人雙簧這個超難項目，Temple City有兩隊女子隊伍參賽， 由Kathy Liu 與 Marissa Li 獲得亞軍，Cassie Kao與Emmy Chen則是進入決賽。這次獲獎對Kathy和Marissa 是莫大的鼓勵， 兩位女孩不是第一次搭檔了，私底下不只默契好，上了台更是靈活靈現十分互補，教練很早就看到他們的潛能而時常鼓勵她們可在這個項目多琢磨， 因此在這個多是美國白人選手稱霸的項目裡， Kudos兩位悍將不只打敗眾多隊伍， 最後勇奪亞軍，是相當相當難得的!! 令指導教練Mr. Seymour開心的合不攏嘴。

而Cassie Kao和Emmy Chen雖是第一次合作，但兩人個性十分合拍，因此練習過程十分順暢， 由Cassie 老將的沉穩搭配Emmy新手的衝勁，激盪出新的火花，最後順利晉級，兩位學生的家長均感到相當高興和驕傲。

讓我們恭喜這次獲獎的學生，並鼓勵每位沒得獎的孩子不要氣餒，再接再厲!!

2/17/2018 南加州小學演講辯論聯盟所舉辦的演講辯論比賽，位於San Gabriel的Roosevelt小學舉行，比賽報名人數眾多，有將近200位3~5年級的學生參加，Kudos天普市與爾灣校區的小學進階班學生共29位報名，這次比賽預期可給孩子一次非常好的觀摩與體驗機會。主辦單位表示，上午是即席辯論，下午是即席演講和其他的演講項目，有些學生甚至報名參加兩個，不只準備十分投入，家長更是積極配合老師，在家陪同孩子練習。

在”即席辯論”這個項目裡，共62位學生報名參賽，是報名人數最多的，許多第一次參加比賽的學生不單單打入決賽，更獲得獎盃獎座。
來自天普校區的Nicole Fung 即席辯論獲得第七名，Alan Alexander即席辯論獲得第八名
爾灣校區的Zhian Xu獲得即席辯論第五名，Joy Sun獲得即席辯論第四名， 四人欣喜地抱回獎盃。

“雙人雙簧”這個項目， 由天普校區的Stephanie Jing與 Salvia Sun獲得第二名， Alan Alexander與Ethan Dong獲得第五名 。
賽前這兩組選手不只利用課後時間加緊練習，更把練習的影像錄下來，不斷修正並來回地與教練討論，其認真的程度令教練與家長感到驕傲，最後也如願開心抱回獎盃。

Nicole Fung, Stephanie Jing, Salvia Sun, Ethan Dong and Alan Alexander.

“即席演講”是個難度相當高的項目，因為學生無法事前做準備，每回合開始前才抽題目， 學生只有3分鐘時間做準備， 因此學生若平日沒有練習，很難在這個項目有所斬獲。很開心來自爾灣校區的Victoria Fang，憑著自信大方的談吐與輕鬆自若的態度，加上平日對時事新聞的積累，這次比賽顯得輕鬆有餘，三回合總結以高積分進入決賽，並拿下比賽第五名獎座。

Victoria Fang holding her trophy.

Victoria Fang and Joy Sun holding their shinny trophies.

Mr. Yazel giving encouragements to his class.

Joy Sun

Zhian Xu

Brandon Wu and Isabel Gan during rounds.

Alen Zhang practiced with his classmates.

Alan Alexander and Ethan Dong

“詩詞朗誦”由天普校區的Jessica Xue獲得第八名。

“說故事比賽”也是由天普校區的Yitong Liu獲得第八名。

這真是一個刺激又充滿教育意義的比賽， 相信每位陪同的家長都能感受到比賽緊張的氛圍，但同時也目睹孩子的成長與蛻變，每一回合都是難得的鍛鍊，讓我們恭喜每一位得獎的孩子，而沒進入決賽的同學也不要氣餒，再接再厲，下一個比賽絕對會表現更好的。

Round schedule just released.

Students practice Impromptu between rounds.

The first league tournament of the school year was held this past weekend at East Los Angeles College. Kudos students took home top awards in Lincoln-Douglas and Congressional debate.

In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, Kudos students took four of the ten top places. Aaron Zhang finished in first place and was second speaker. Aaron was the only undefeated debater at the tournament. Aaron Lee finished in third place—one of two debaters with a 5-1 record. Christina Feng finished in fourth place and was third speaker. Ethan Chang finished in tenth place.

In Congress, Kudos students won top 5 places, Selina Ho finished in first place and Justin Lim finished in second place, Emmy Chen took home third place and Justin Hong won fifth place.

Aaron Zhang LD 1st
Aaron Lee LD 3rd
Christina Feng LD 4th
Ethan Chang LD 10th
Aaron Zhang LD 2nd speaker
Christina Feng LD 3rd speaker
Selina Ho Congress 1st
Justin Lim Congress 2nd
Emmy Chen Congress 3rd
Justin Hong Congress 5th

Congratulations!!

2017 December 1st, SCJFL 2nd Speech Tournament, hosted in Walter Reed Middle School

中學演講辯論聯盟的第二次演講比賽, 於2017年12月1號周五晚上舉行
來自13所中學院校報名參加, 共210位學生角逐5個演講項目
Kudos共有10位學生參賽

Open Dramatic-Interp (戲劇演繹) 這個項目由 Emmy Chen 在31人角逐的激戰裡, 以初賽每回合均第一名的佳績打入決賽, 最後獲得大會第三名,
這也是Emmy 第一次在中學演講比賽中獲得前三名的紀錄

Original Oratory 原創演說的部分, 由Kathy Liu 報名參賽, 早在10月初Kathy即與教練展開構思, 不論是題目的命名或內容的撰寫 Kathy 都相當考究, 這算是演講類別中難度較高的範圍, 所有文字撰寫與研究的內容都須由學生一手完成, 教練擔任從旁指導的角色, 很高興Kathy接受了這次挑戰, 嘗試不同的項目並自50多位參賽者中得到第十名, 勇氣可嘉

讓我們恭喜每位獲獎學生, 再接再厲!!

Thirty-two students attended the Riverside STEM Middle School Classic this past weekend. Eight Kudos students participated and five won awards.

Grace Jin and Ava Ye finished in first place and Rachel Bai and Alex Fu finished in second place. Grace was the tournament’s top speaker and Catherine Yang was the tournament’s third speaker.

Catherine Yang won 3rd speaker award

Grace Jin won top speaker award

Grace Jin with her partner Ava Ye

Rachel and Alex

Grace Jin Public Forum w/ Ava 1st place
Ava Ye Public Forum w/ Grace 1st place
Rachel Bai Public Forum w/ Alex 2nd place
Alex Fu Public Forum w/ Rachel 2nd place
Grace Jin Public Forum 1st Speaker
Catherine Yang Public Forum 3rd Speaker

One-hundred, fifty-three students from twenty-nine schools and four states attended the Chuck Ballingall Memorial Invitational at Damien High School this past weekend. Five Kudos middle school students were among them and four won awards.

In novice policy debate, the team of York Tang and Aaron Lee reached the semifinal round (top 4). Aaron was third speaker and York was sixth place speaker.

In varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate, Aaron Zhang reached the quarterfinal round (top 8) despite competing against high school students with two or more years of experience. Aaron was also named fifth speaker.

In novice Lincoln-Douglas debate, Christina Feng reached the quarterfinal round (top 8) and was the tournament’s ninth speaker.

Aaron Lee Novice CX w/ York Semis – Top 4
York Tang Novice CX w/ Aaron Semis – Top 4
Aaron Lee Novice CX 3rd Speaker
York Tang Novice CX 6th Speaker
Aaron Zhang Varsity LD Quarters – Top 8
Aaron Zhang Varsity LD 5th Speaker
Christina Feng Novice LD Quarters – Top 8
Christina Feng Novice LD 9th Speaker

York Tang

Christina Feng

Aaron Lee

The first Southern California Junior Forensics League Debate Tournament of the school year was held on October 21st, 2017, at La Salle High School in Pasadena.

Kudos students won Championships in three of the four debate events and received the Top Speaker Award in all of these four debate categories.

(Setting up registration booth for schools and contestants)

(Shiny trophies waiting to be taken home by winners)

In Public Forum debate, Abigail Fang and Grace Jin of Kudos Irvine campus finished in first place and Grace was the tournament’s Top Speaker. Abigail and Grace were the only team at the tournament to finish with a perfect 5-0 record.

(Grace received Top speaker award)

(Kudos Irvine was led by Mr. Yazel on the left)

In Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, Christina Feng was named one of five finalists by having a 4-1 record. Aaron Zhang won the Top Speaker trophy in LD.

(Big smile on Christina’s face)

(Aaron with his proud parents)

In Policy debate, Aaron Lee and York Tang went undefeated and Aaron was Top Speaker. Ethan Chang finished in Second Place.

In Congressional debate, Justin Hong was Champion, while Emmy Chen finished in Third Place. Selina Ho and Cassie Gao tied as the Fifth Place winners, and Justin Lim was placed 7th.

(Justin and Emmy were delighted with the results )

(Coach Mr. Ro and his students discussing strategies)

(Partial of Congress team)

Aaron Lee CX w/ York 1st
York Tang CX w/ Aaron 1st
Ethan Chang CX 2nd
Aaron Lee CX 1st speaker
Abigail Fang PF w/ Grace 1st
Grace Jin PF w/ Abigail 1st
Grace Jin PF 1st speaker
Christina Feng LD Finalist (top 5)
Aaron Zhang LD 1st speaker
Justin Hong Congress 1st
Emmy Chen Congress 3rd
Selina Ho Congress 5th
Cassie Kao Congress 5th
Justin Lim Congress 7th

(Irvine Coach Mr. Yazel)

(Kudos once again hosted another successful tournament)

共來自10所公私立學校，170位學生， 雖然人數眾多， 但 Kudos所派出的13位選手， 各個使出全力， 表現不俗，Kudos演講隊在全場強敵的環繞下，更有許多第一次參賽就進入決賽的佳績，抱回許多獎盃，表現十分亮眼!!

散文演說類， 兩位資深選手Lily Johnson與Cassie Kao分別以高積分進入總決賽，最後獲得總決賽選手前九名的佳獎。

(Lily 與父親開心的合照)

(把握時間繼續練習)

(凱西與親愛的媽媽合照)

而原創詩詞散文類，由第一次出賽的Celine Tsai獲得此項目的第四名，Celine以細膩的表達方式與勵志的創作內容，每一回合均打動許多評審的心，最後以高積分進入決賽，榮獲第四名，令其指導教練Mrs.Kalmus感到驕傲!

(Celine第一次參加原創類型比賽)

(教練Mrs.Kalmus替Celine感到開心)

在雙人演講的部分， Kathy Liu 與 Marisa Lee第一次搭配，老將Marisa搭配新手Kathy，比賽前多次課後練習，以培養十足默契與節奏感，果然前三場就積分出眾，順利進入決賽， 最後歡喜獲得第七名佳績。

(左為Marisa, 右為Kathy, 兩人默契十足, 表現維妙維肖)

(Mr.Seymour手下兩組優秀隊員都是第一次比”雙簧詮釋”這個項目, 難度十分高, 因為很少學生願意與教練配合花時間細細琢磨, 但這次不只兩隊都打入決賽, 最後更勇奪第四名獎盃)

(Ryan和父母親合照)

Ryan Sieh 與Lucas Lim兩位六年級的小夥子渾身喜感，一樣在前三場以高積分進入決賽，最後一路比到終場，獲得此項目的第四名，令家長與教練興奮不已，全隊 士氣高昂。

讓我們恭喜每位選手的勝利，一起分享他們的喜悅 ~

(Kudos 即席辯論隊成員群體合照)

(You girls ROCK !)

Over two-thousand students from one-hundred, twenty-four schools and eight states competed at the Jack Howe Memorial Tournament at Cal State Long Beach this past weekend.

Three Kudos middle school students were among them.

In junior varsity policy debate, the team of Ethan Chang and Aaron Lee reached the semifinal round (top 4).
Ethan was second speaker and Aaron was sixth place speaker.

In the varsity division of CHSSA Lincoln-Douglas debate, Aaron Zhang finished with a winning 4-2 record despite competing against high school students with two or more years of experience.

Aaron Lee Junior Varsity CX w/ Ethan Semis – Top 4
Ethan Chang Junior Varsity CX w/ Aaron Semis – Top 4
Aaron Lee Junior Varsity CX 6th Speaker
Ethan Chang Junior Varsity CX 2nd Speaker
Aaron Zhang Varsity LD (CHSSA division) 4-2 record