Congratulations to Monmouth’s Debate Hawks on winning six team and individual awards (including the top speaker award) at the Jersey Shore Invitational hosted on the University’s campus this weekend (November 21–23). Debate Hawks Co-Captain Aiden Fornicola received the top speaker award at the tournament, and three other Monmouth debaters won top 10 speaker awards, including Reagan Dunn (6th place), Ilyana Balaj (7th place), and Emma Levinson (8th place).
Monmouth also had two debate teams make it to the quarter-final playoff rounds on Sunday. The teams of Aiden Fornicola and Reagan Dunn received an award for making it to the quarter final round after posting a 4–2 record during the six preliminary debate rounds on Friday evening and Saturday. The first year team of Ilyana Balaj and Emma Levinson also received a team award for making it to the quarter-final playoff round, where both MU teams lost in close decisions to teams from the West Point Military Academy and the U.S. Naval Academy respectively.
Monmouth had seven debate teams of two (14 debaters) compete in the tournament. The seven debate teams included: 1) Sophie Schaub and Summer Billich (upper division); 2) Viktoria Stojceski and Michael Judge (upper division); 3) Paige Campbell and Kym Davis (3 wins); 4) Giana Mirto and Audrey Copeland (3 wins); Megan McCann and Lola Salyamov (3 wins); Ilyana Balaj and Emma Levinson (3 wins); and Aiden Fornicola and Reagan Dunn (4 wins).
The tournament was in-person and hosted on Monmouth’s campus. Most of the debates took place in Bey Hall and Poczycki Hall and included debate teams from 8 other universities including the West Point Military Academy, New York University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Boston College, the New School (NYC), Suffolk University (MA); Marian College (In), and Monmouth.
The 2025–26 American Debate Associate topic this year is: “Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially strengthen collective bargaining rights for workers in the United States.” The Monmouth team ran an original team-researched case calling for the expansion of rights included in the National Labor Relations Act (1935) to current domestic workers and undocumented workers.
A special thanks to our teams captains Mariami Ramirez and Aiden Fornicola, who worked hard prepping for the tournament, and to Monmouth debate alumni Mike Makfinsky and Patrick Carbone for helping judge and coach at the tournament. Please reach out to Joe Patten at if interested in learning more about the team. No experience is necessary. Debate teaches skills that last a lifetime and debate is a great way to make life-long friendships. Go Debate Hawks!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!
