BRIAN BITKER (1999-2001). Brian was part of the 2001 National Championship team. He competed in Parliamentary Debate, Impromptu, and Extemporaneous Speaking, and excelled at them all. After El Camino, Brian earned his BA from UC Berkeley and his JD at Indiana University School of Law. He currently runs his own family law practice in California. "Debate probably better prepared me to do trial work than anything else, including Law School."
El Camino Forensics Team Distinguished Alumni
FRANCESCA BISHOP (1995-1997). Francesca competed as the debate community was moving from CEDA to Parliamentary Debate, and she competed in both. She was Phi Rho Pi National Champion in CEDA team and LD as well as in Impromptu and in 1996, she was the top speaker in California. Francesca went on to earn her BA from UCLA and MA from California State University, Fullerton. She became a professor of Communications Studies and Director of Forensics at El Camino in 2000.
JAVON JOHNSON (1999-2001). Javon was the top speaker in the nation in his second year at El Camino, going on to win the four-year national championship for California State University, Los Angeles. He says that the team anchored him to El Camino, and provided a healthy competitive training ground where he and his colleagues sharpened each other's skill and acumen. Javon went on to earn his Ph.D. from Northwestern University and is now an assistant professor at San Francisco State University.
KAREN NISHIE (1999-2001). Karen was part of the "Dream Team" of 2001 that won the NPDA and Phi Rho Pi national championships. She excelled at both debate and individual events, taking gold in both Parliamentary Debate and Prose. Karen went on to earn her BA and MA from California State University, Fullerton and has been a professor of Communication at Vanguard University since 2003 where she was Director of Forensics for many years.
HUGH CARLSON (2001-2003). Debate instilled in Hugh a passion for advocacy. As a debater, he received gold medals at the state and national level. He earned a BA from UCLA, a JD from Georgetown Law, and an LLM from the University of London. He now practices international dispute resolution in Washington, DC and is an adjunct professor at Georgetown Law.
JESSICA PARTRIDGE (2000-2002). Jessica was the dominant Impromptu speaker in California and an excellent Parliamentary debater before she transferred to UCLA where she majored in Philosophy. After earning her Law Degree from the University of San Diego, she practiced litigation and family law in California, before moving to Idaho where she is currently Deputy Prosecutor for Canyon County, Idaho.
BRIAN NEESBY (2000-2002). After Brian's exceptional debate career at El Camino, he went on to earn his BA from UCLA and his JD from Loyola Law School. Brian specializes in regulation compliance, specifically the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and is a consultant for Toyota Motor Corporation.
DARYLE NAGANO KRIER (1996-1997). Daryle has been part of the El Camino family since she competed on the team. With partner Francesca Bishop, she won gold at the Phi Rho Pi national tournament in CEDA debate before earning her BA and MA from California State University, Fullerton. Daryle is a tenured professor of Communications at Harbor College, but continues to teach a class at El Camino as an adjunct.
SAMANTHA STELLA (1999-2001). After completing her undergraduate studies and the University of California, Irvine, Sam went on to earn her law degree from the University of San Diego. She is currently an Assistant District Attorney in Riverside County. "The coaches and my teammates on the ECC debate team helped form me into the Prosecutor I am today, I am forever thankful for their knowledge, guidance and friendship."
JOANNA LAMPKINS (2001-2003). Joanna was a champion debater and individual events competitor, before leaving El Camino to complete her undergraduate degree in Political Science at UCLA. She then earned a JD from Loyola Law School. Joanna has been working for Northrup Grumman as a contract administrator and business manager for many years.
JOSH LAWSON (2000-2002). Josh was a champion debater for El Camino who went on to be a White House Intern. After completing his BA at UCLA, Josh earned an MPS at George Washington University, an LLM at Duke, and a JD at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He worked for former Attorney General John Ashcroft before becoming General Counsel at the North Carolina State Board of Elections.
JESSALEE TALLEY (2002-2004). Jel was a remarkable debater for El Camino who went transferred to UCLA before obtaining her JD from McGeorge Law School at the University of the Pacific. She is a practicing attorney, specializing in Workers' Compensation claims.
JARED KUBICKA-MILLER (1998-2000). Jared was a standout competitor for El Camino before transferring to California State University, Long Beach, where he competed in multiple events, qualifying five to the American Forensics Association National Individual Events Tournament. After completing his BA and MA at Long Beach, Jared became a tenured professor of Communications at Santiago College and for many years coached forensics.
MARK URISTA (2001-2003). Mark was an exceptional leader and competitor for El Camino. He says, "El Camino Forensics and the mentoring provided by the coaches was instrumental in my graduation from ECC, acceptance to UC Berkeley, and pursuit of a fulfilling career." After completing his BA at UC Berkeley, he went on to earn an MA in Communications from the University of the Pacific. Since 2010 he has been a professor of Communications and Department Chair at Linn-Benton Community College in Oregon. He helped coach the team from 2008-2010.
CATHERINE LAWSON (2004-2006). Catherine was a phenomenal competitor, excelling in debate and individual events. She went on to get a BA from American University and a JD from Duke University School of Law. Before taking a position as a litigation associate, she was American Bar Association Moot Court National Champion and clerked for the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court.