GIRL POWER OCTOBER 2013 | Page 8

Mentor of the Month Nicole Serrano I had the privilege to interview Nicole Serrano as a mentor for The Lauren Galley Show. Not only is Nicole smart and talented she is a huge dose of GIRL POWER. She believe in teens and the amazing impact the debate program can have on their lives. Being able to speak and converse in a professional manner is so important in today’s society. You can have the best grades, be book smart, but when that one college you would love to attend is down to the wire, your interview just may seal the deal because you were the better speaker/ communicator. I consider Nicole a great mentor for my generation and encourage you to try debate in school!! Here’s a little more about Nicole ~ Outstanding Debate League. As Director of the Debate Institutes at Dartmouth College, Serrano created a national model for summer debate camps by generating comprehensive digital curricula complete with free videos accessible to all students. Serrano has previously coached nationally successful debate teams from Lexington, MA, and Nashville, TN, and was the 2009 recipient of the Bronx Achievement Award for excellence in coaching, debate pedagogy, and encouragement within the debate community. Serrano graduated from Dartmouth College, where she was a nationally successful debater, with a degree in Government. Nicole Serrano is a leading advocate for the impact that debate participation can have on young adults. As the Executive Director for the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance, she has more than tripled the number of at-risk students experiencing the academic benefits of debate. Under her leadership, Dallas Urban Debate was named