The room is filled with both present and past students, from as far back as the 1980s, with beaming smiles on their faces along with the awards they won in hand.

Many of them were frozen images from dozens of pictures covering the classroom walls, but the room roared of laughter all the same as students exchanged witty-political jokes.

This team of lively students is none other than El Camino College’s nationally undefeated Forensics and Debate Team, and the photographs are the dozens of students that sat in their seats before them.

The debate team has been a force to reckon with for over 10 years, winning a national championship every year since 1996 and possibly even earlier, according to team director and former debate team member Francesca Bishop.

“We won my first year and every year since I think,” Bishop said. “I graduated in 1996.”

Former debate team member and current coach, Harrison Shien, 22, said his best memories on the team involved winning.

“We won all the time,” Shien said. “I mean, all the time. It’s a great feeling being able to represent the school.”

The Forensics and Debate Team earns top rankings among four-year and Ivy-League schools from the National Parliamentary Debate Association, the largest national intercollegiate debate organization in the United States, according to elcaminocollege.com.

Bishop said that her favorite part about being director is watching the students progress throughout their time on the debate team.

“I love the students,” Bishop said. “I get to watch them from this nervous student, the first day, to the time they leave here and they are better than I ever was.”

The debate team is a place to make connections, express themselves confidently and gain a deeper knowledge of current events, Bishop said.

“My debate partner is still one of my best friends,” Bishop said. “We don’t keep people around that don’t play well with others. We all get along. I wouldn’t be doing it if I didn’t enjoy being with them.”

Recently-selected debate-team president, Jamie Gilman, 23, communication studies major, said that initially she signed up to do the individual events, but gained more than she expected.

“I love getting to know new people and getting deeper knowledge of things that I didn’t even know was happening,” Gilman said. “I never imagined becoming president and I just want to do so much for the team and I want it to be family-like.”

According to elcaminocollege.com, as a result of the team’s great reputation students are heavily recruited by four-year institutions, often with scholarships.

“I keep in touch with them,” Bishop said. “I know we have a dozen or two lawyers, several full time professors and a few that are coaching. It’s great to see all they have accomplished.”

Students who are interested in joining the debate team are encouraged to take Communcation Studies 4: Debate and Argumentation.