Sebastian Perez-Navarro, a 19-year-old communication studies major at The University of Texas at El Paso, snagged top honors at the Pi Kappa Delta 2025 National Comprehensive Tournament, making waves with his Spanish Impromptu Speaking victory, and adding two more top-three finishes to his resume. His impressive showing at the event, which ran from March 13-16 at Ohio University in Athens, was not only a personal triumph but also a testament to the prowess embedded within UTEP's speech and debate program, according to UTEP.
The tournament featured some of the sharpest collegiate minds from across the nation. Perez-Navarro demonstrated his rhetorical agility by also securing second place in English Impromptu Speaking and third place in Extemporaneous Speaking. "This was the first collegiate national tournament I’ve participated in and the first time I’ve ever finaled in a speech and debate tournament at the state or national level," Perez-Navarro said, as per UTEP. The events challenge competitors to craft and deliver speeches with minimal preparation, a feat requiring quick wit and comprehensive control over the spoken word.
UTEP's forensics team's accomplishments extended well past Perez-Navarro's accolades. The squad landed second place in Individual Speech Events and fourth in Combined Speech/Debate, legitimizing their efforts and skill in the Small Team/Limited Entry Division. The team dynamic, as noted by Perez-Navarro, benefited from the guidance of coach Carlos A. Tarin, Ph.D., associate professor of communication, who noted that competing at such a prestigious level requires extraordinary quick thinking, poise, and communication skills.
Perez-Navarro also balances a role as an editor at UTEP’s student-run newspaper, The Prospector, engaging in sports broadcasting with the UTEP Athletics Miner Vision team, and is a part of a research team probing the intricacies of news coverage of the 2024 election. His full plate of endeavors is complemented by his academic and extracurricular support networks, which include a teaching assistant, Sabrina Bustillos, and the camaraderie found among his teammates. He feels protected within this culture, he says, a space where personal and collective growth go hand in hand.
Looking forward, the UTEP Forensics Team is gearing up to showcase their finely honed skills at the UTEP Forensics Showcase on April 10, inviting the community to witness the finesse and dedication that have been poured into their craft. The event promises to be a display of speech and debate acuity, with select portions of team members' performances on exhibit at the Union Cinema, starting at 6 p.m. A moment to savor the spoken word at its competitive best, free and open to the public, as detailed by UTEP.
