WPDU's two Scholastic All-Americans Headed to Cornell, Villanova
At the Cross Examination Debate Association National Championship Tournament held at the University of Oklahoma, March 22-25, 2007, the University of Pittsburgh's William Pitt Debating Union (WPDU) forged reinforcements for its motto "Brains of Steel."
The WPDU was one of only three schools in the United States to have two of its debaters recognized as Scholastic All-Americans. Pittsburgh seniors Melissa Mistretta and Melina Forte received the prestigious awards, which recognize debaters who "demonstrate personal qualities that show their understanding of the role of intercollegiate debate in a liberal education" and "demonstrate excellence in their classroom studies."
Melissa recently graduated with degrees in political science and Latin American Studies. In addition to posting a stellar 3.92 GPA, she also was twice named a University of Pittsburgh Scholar (GPA in top 2% of College of Arts & Sciences) and won the Bracken Award for Excellence in Political Science. In debate competition, Melissa compiled an extraordinary record of tournament success, winning top speaker at the 2005 West Virginia tournament, and reaching elimination rounds at tournaments hosted by West Point, Miami (OH), and the U.S. Naval Academy.
As a philosophy and history major, Melina compiled a 3.92 GPA, making the Dean's list multiple semesters and winning an Honors College Brackenridge Research Fellowship. She won the Jay Weinberg Debates at the University of Richmond in 2005, was named top speaker at the Liberty Debate tournament in 2004, reached the semifinals at the 2005 King’s College debate tournament, and qualified for the National Debate Tournament in 2007. In a public debate on the topic of peer-to-peer music sharing in 2005, Melina worked tirelessly to research and refine her own speech, while also playing an instrumental role in organizing and convening the event, which drew an audience of hundreds and featured prominent legal experts, including RIAA lead area counsel Geoffrey Beauchamp and private attorney Charles Mudd.
Next year, Melissa will begin graduate work in international studies at Cornell University, while Melina will study law at Villanova University.