After three years of helping with the forensics program, fellow and debate coach B. Quinn McKenzie and Assistant Director of Forensics Julia Hren will be making their departure. Since 2022, they have led the Saints to many victories both locally and nationally. Together, with Hren focusing on speech events and McKenzie on debate, they have worked with a total of 114 students from sixth grade to 12th grade in these past years. This year, they will bring a historic 20 students to nationals.
Out of the 114 students in forensics, McKenzie individually practiced with 84 in debate events across varying levels.
“It’s always really exciting to help someone find their passion for speech and debate,” McKenzie said. “That’s a very rewarding experience for me because I get to introduce someone to a passion that they and, and it’s so exciting to see this growth from someone who doesn’t know what the activity is to someone who’s so invested and so capable and so involved in the team.”
His passion shaped the team culture to be both productive and encouraging.
“He’s always been a rock for the team, just like Coach Hren,” senior Jonah Downs said. “He has worked tirelessly to make our team excellent in winning and in failure based on his view that we are successful if we are working hard, whether we win or not.”
Because of their support, there have been many success stories. Downs, under the guidance of McKenzie, became the national champion for Extemporaneous Commentary in 2024. He dedicates much of his success to McKenzie’s help in breaking down what a winning round looks like. His mentorship left a lasting impression on many students, especially Downs.
“(He is) a debate wizard, a speech god,” Downs said. “Just probably one of my favorite people I’ve ever worked with when it comes to speech and debate and someone who has always been there for me, who has always been there for the team and always had the best interest of our team and our success.”
Outside of his mentorship with debaters, McKenzie also brought his teaching capabilities to many different classrooms in an experience that was both engaging for his students but to him as well.
“(Students) bring those different perspectives that I can engage with as a teacher and a member of the community to all sorts of topics in history class, speech and debate and government class,” McKenzie said. “I get challenged as an educator and as a person.”
While McKenzie focused on teaching social studies classes and debate, Hren taught English in addition to her many contributions to forensics.
“She was always super helpful because I’ve done a lot of speech events during my time, and she’s helped me with every single one in a different kind of way,” junior Jia Sood said. “A lot of the times the team forget(s) how much she does for everything like she’s the one who makes the trip sheets, helps us and our buildings (and) helps us with our events.”
As a coach, she has helped various students navigate the many events forensics offers. In one of her highlights, Hren recalls the moment when Sood and junior Katia Lyakh both qualified for nationals in their events. Even shedding some tears of happiness, the heartwarming moment encapsulated Hren last year here.
“Because especially with it being my last year, I really wanted them to have this,” Hren said. “At that moment I was like ‘yes! It is great. I am so happy for everyone.’”
Their success was also a testament to Hren’s efforts in this program. From her willing attitude to her expertise in speech, Hren’s dedication to her students shines through.
“You can really tell she cares a lot just the way that she works with everybody,” Sood said. “She’s always super involved with everything that you’re doing, and she’ll go out of her way to find the best sources for you. Sometimes I’ll get an email randomly at like 10:00 p.m. (of) the source she thought was good for my speech.”
In completing their Trinity experience at the end of this school year, Hren and McKenzie will be heading to New Jersey where they will both teach at a private debate academy. Even as they move on to other places, they hope to coach the forensics team online.