Benjamin Unanaowo

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A veteran of Forensics with over 8 years of competition in high school and college, Benjamin Unanaowo has had the pleasure of competing for two of the most storied programs in the history of Speech and Debate, The James Logan Forensics team and the Western Kentucky Forensics team.  His pedigree has afforded him a wealth of knowledge due to the Hall of Fame and championship coaches he has worked with and studied under.
As a competitor under Hall of Fame coach Dr. Tommie Lindsey Jr Mr. Unanaowo became the most decorated orator in James Logan Forensics history by becoming the team’s first NSDA national finalist in Original Oratory and the only James Logan orator to win the California State title and Emory University Silver Key Championship in the same year. Mr Unanaowo’s talents afforded him a full ride scholarship at Western Kentucky University where he became a six-time national finalist and key contributor toward Western Kentucky winning 3 national titles in 4 years.


Ben Unanaowo will be working during:
Radiant Kidz in Cupertino/West San Jose Session 1-3

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Competitive History & Background

• James Logan HS (Union City, CA 2000-2004)
  
• National Speech & Debate Association: Black Distinction
  
• Western Kentucky University ( Bowling Green, KY 2004-2008)
  
• Competitive History and Honors
  
• 3 time Qualifier to NSDA National Tournament (OO 2001-2004)
  
• 4 time Qualifier to CA State Tournament (Duo 2000, 00 2001-2004)
  
• 2 time MLK Jr. Invitational OO Champion (2003-2004)
  
• 2 time American Forensics Association Poetry National Finalist (4th place 2007, 3rd place 2008 )
  
• 3rd place Duo @ American Forensics Association National Tournament  (Austin, TX 2008)
  
• 3rd place Duo @ National Forensics Association National Tournament (Nashville, TN 2008)
  
• 3rd  place OO @ Cal Berkeley Invitational (Berkeley, CA 2003)
  
• 3rd place Duo @ Cal Berkeley Invitational (Berkeley, CA 2002)
  
• 1st  place Barkley Forum Emory University Silver Key OO Champion (Atlanta, GA 2004)
  
• 2nd place OO California State Tournament (San Bernardino, CA)
  
• 1st place OO California State Tournament (Diablo Valley, CA)
  

Coaching History

• Speech and Debate Summer instructor @ James Logan High School (Union City, CA 2008, 2014)
• Speech and Debate Summer instructor @ Lyceum Oratory (Boston, MA 2011)
• Speech and Debate Summer instructor Perfect Performance ( Hattiesburg, MS 2013)
• Assistant Director of Speech and Debate @ William Carey University (Hattiesburg, MS 2014-2015)
• Speech and Debate Coach @ Tennessee State University (Nashville, TN 2010-2012)

Coaching Highlights

• 1st place Designed Selection Material of DI NSDA National Champion “Not a Genuine Black Man (2015)
• 2nd place Designed Selection Material of Duo NSDA Brokeology” (2014)
• 2nd place POI @ American Forensics National Tournament (Kearney, NE 2011)
• 2nd place Poetry @ American Forensics National Tournament ( San Marcos, TX 2012)