Drama, Debate and Forensics teams in Haines and Skagway had very successful seasons this year. Haines student Stella Ordonez and Skagway student Callia Fielding will be competing in nationals, with Skagway’s Tessa Murphy named first alternate.   Additionally, Fielding’s father was named DDF coach of the year for Alaska. 

 

Skagway has had a DDF program since about 2006.  This year, coach Kent Fielding was given the state’s highest honor, Coach of the Year. 

Fielding said, “It’s always good to be recognized by your peers and to know that whatever you’re doing has some impact.”

What is DDF?  It’s a public speaking competition broken down into three categories.  Drama, which includes mime, acting, and theatre.  Debate, which in Southeast Alaska involves public forum debate.  And Forensics, in this category, students interpret literature through humor, drama, and commentary, public speaking on current events also falls into this category.

Not only did Mr. Fielding receive accolades from his peers this year, he received an even bigger honor, being the father of a competitor who has been invited to compete in the national meet.

“She qualified last week.  The season in Southeast is really over, the season has been over since the second week in February,  and so to continue a month after just to qualify for nationals is impressive,” said Fielding.

That’s a proud father and coach talking about his daughter Callia Fielding who has now qualified for two national meets in two separate categories.  All participants will be competing online this year due to Covid, and that is sure to present its own challenges.

Skagway students aren’t the only ones representing Alaska at the national DDF competition. Haines High School Junior Stella Ordonez also qualified for nationals with her humorous interpretation.  Ordonez has participated in DDF since she was a freshman. This year was the first time she had to perform for a camera because all of the competitions were held virtually due to the pandemic. She says that was a little bit difficult to adjust to. 

“In terms of performing and stuff, there’s not quite the same energy, you know, of like, the people right there watching you, which can sometimes for me be the best part of performing is kind of the, it feels a little bit more spontaneous. You know, there’s not really anything like it,” said Ordonez.

But she says she learned some new skills about how to position herself in front of a camera and get the best sound quality for a recording.  After qualifying for nationals, Ordonez learned that several famous actors and celebrities competed in the national DDF competition before they made it big. 

“Oprah went to nationals. So did Chadwick Boseman. And like Paul Rudd, and like, the guy that played Olaf in Frozen, they all went to Nationals. And I think they all like won stuff at nationals. But I was just like, wow. But it was so cool. I had no idea. And so that made me like, even more excited. I’m like, I’m going to be going to like the realm of Oprah,” mused Ordonez.

DDF nationals will be held virtually in June. Ordonez says she loves performing, and no matter where she is, she will continue to pursue that passion.