Ambar Mejia Wins Bernabei Spirit Award

The John Bernabei Spirit Award is an annual trophy named after former North Hollywood Coach John Bernabei. Who was John Bernabei? Mr. Bernabei coached the North Hollywood Speech and Debate Team until his death on March 5, 2007. John was not a faculty member; he initially got involved in league competitions as a volunteer judge through the Optimist Club, a community service organization. He developed a passion for forensics, and he wanted to do more than judge. Mr Bernanbei talked to the North Hollywood HS administration into letting him start a team there, and once he started coaching, there was no turning back. John’s devotion to forensics may well have compromised his health, but you could not keep him away. He showed up to every tournament whether on his two feet or in a wheelchair, and his team members were fiercely devoted to him. John loved to tell jokes, and he had a million stories stemming from his days as an actor hitting the boards in search of the role that would surely make him a star. Just days before he passed away during open heart surgery, he called Jerome and Kathy and railed for the better part of an hour about his concerns that speed-debate was becoming the norm in Lincoln-Douglas.

At his premature passing, John was in his coaching prime—he had many more champions to groom. His death was a loss to TCFL. To honor John's passing, TCFL gives the John Bernanbei Spirit Awards to competitors who show unflagging spirit to the sport of forensics. These students enter every league open tournament, win or lose, sharpening and expanding their skills, demonstrating that regardless of outcome, Speech and Debate is a valuable, life-changing experience.

In this 2014-15 Speech season, junior Ambar Mejia attended all the TCFL Open tournaments and qualified for this year's Bernabei Award. The Monroe Speech Team applauds your dedication to Speech and Debate!