Assistant Director of Speech & Debate Wins National Educator Award

Assistant Director of Speech & Debate Marisa Mayo received the 2024 Bob R. Derryberry Award from the national speech and debate organization Pi Kappa Delta. The award was presented during the Pi Kappa Delta annual meeting held at the National Communication Association last week in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Bob Derryberry Award is named after renowned forensic educator Dr. Derryberry and recognizes excellence among speech and debate educators who have been teaching for less than five years.

“Marisa is well-deserving of this prestigious award,” said Tiana Brownen, Director of Speech, Debate, and Mock Trial. “Her dedication, passion and commitment to our team shines through in everything she does. Marisa positively shapes not only our students but the community as well. Our team is so lucky to have her.”

This award comes shortly after Simpson’s recent success at the Cameron University Christmas Classic Swing Tournament, where the team earned second place in the overall sweepstakes and finished first in the debate sweepstakes.

See the complete Christmas Classic results.