The Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) Speech and Debate Team is proud to award
incoming students Hannah Plasencio of Mitchell, Neb. and Mikaela Graham of Greeley,
Colo. with full-tuition scholarships to participate on the award-winning team for
the 2017-2018 academic year.
Plasencio, a 2017 graduate of Mitchell High School, is the daughter of Aber and Amber
Plasencio. She won the 2017 Serious Prose District Champion title, and was a three-time
Nebraska Class C state speech qualifier as well as a two-time state speech medalist
in both Duet Acting and Serious Prose. She was also an active member of Mitchell's
one-act play and musical. Plasencio plans on majoring in English in the fall.
Graham, a 2017 graduate of Northridge High School, is the daughter of Bill and Gloria
Alvarez. She is a three-time Colorado state qualifier in Poetry Interpretation, a
two-time national qualifier in Program Oral Interpretation, and a three-year member
of the NHS Speech Team. Mikaela plans on majoring in Elementary Education.
"We're excited to have some incredible talent in the way of these young ladies coming
into our program," said Bill Sheffield, Speech Instructor and Speech and Debate Team
Co-Coach at WNCC. "Both of them have had successful high school experiences, and now
we're looking forward to translating that into success at the next level of competition.
They will both be wonderful additions to the program."
The 2016-2017 Speech and Debate season was the first for the WNCC program after five
years on hiatus. The team finished second in the nation at the 2017 National Forensics
Association National Tournament in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
For more information contact Sheffield at 308-635-6194 or sheffiew@wncc.edu.