Alfonso Lara

ALFONSO LARA is the co-director of Debate at the Golden State Academy. A student member of James Logan High School’s nationally renowned debate team he competed in policy debate, pofo, extemporaneous speech, impromptu speech, and oratorical interpretation. He was a finalist  at the University of Pacific and Santa Clara University tournaments and continued to expand his speech and debate experience by qualifying for the state tournament. Upon completing his high school career, Mr. Lara became a competitive coach at the Olive Children Foundation and helped it become the most successful program in the nation during his and his colleagues time there. This success followed them as he helped found The Brooks Academy, which quickly became one of the top schools in the nation. Concurrently, he became head coach at Mission San Jose high school, qualifying the Lincoln Douglas Tournament of Champions, the first head coach in seven years to do so. Many of his students have received top speaker awards at various tournaments.

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Competitive History and Background:
-James Logan High School (Union City, CA 2001-2005)

Coaching History & Honors:
-Debate Coach@ The Olive Children Foundation (Fremont, CA, 2011-2013)
-Debate Coach @ The Brooks Academy (Fremont, CA 2013-2015)
-Head Coach @ Mission San Jose High School (Fremont, CA 2013-2014)

Individual Highlights:
-Quarter Finalist in Policy Debate at the University of the Pacific tournament his junior year. He was also one of the top speakers at the tournament.
-Semi-finalist in Policy Debate at the Santa Clara University Invitational his junior year.
-Qualifier to the California State tournament.
-Competed and placed in multiple speech events including Impromptu, Extemporaneous Speaking, Oratorical Interpretation and Student Congress.

Coaching Highlights:
-helped multiple teams reach elimination rounds at the Harker Invitation for Middle School in December 2014.
-advanced multiple teams in Varsity Lincoln Douglas at the Voices Tournament 2013 at Presentation High.
-Octofinalist in Varsity Public Forum at the Stanford Invitational 2014 at Stanford University. 
-Octofinalist in Varsity Lincoln Douglas at the Stanford Invitational 2014 at Stanford University. 
-Octofinalist in Junior Varsity Public Forum at the Cal Invitational 2014 at UC Berkeley.
- Octafinalist in Varsity Lincoln Douglas at the Cal Invitational 2014 at UC Berkeley.
- Qualified Lincoln Douglas debaters to the Tournament of Champions from Mission San Jose, first head coach in 7 years to do so.
-two teams advanced to round five of seven at the National Qualifier held at Bellarmine College Prepatory in San Jose, CA.
-advanced multiple teams into elimination rounds in Lincoln Douglas debate at the Santa Clara University Spring Invitational.