Doug Bevier, Danielle Tier and Ken Weinstein named to the MSCI Hall of Fame

Above: Doug Bevier with MIFA Executive Director Jon Becker.

MSCI is tremendously excited to honor the newest inductees to the Hall of Fame. These three coaches are important not only to this organization, but to all students in the State of Michigan who take part in speech activities. We look forward to celebrating these great coaches at Mackinac 2021.

Doug Bevier

In 21 years of Forensic coaching - 18 as the head coach - at Walled Lake Western High School, Doug Bevier has led his students to tremendous success. Not only has WLW won the MSCI Mackinac Tournament four of the last five years, but the team has also placed in the top ten at MIFA States for over ten years. All told, Doug has coached 12 State Champions and more than 50 State Finalists. Teams are welcomed each year to one of the largest and longest continually running invitational tournaments, hosted at Walled Lake Western.

While thanking Walled Lake Schools for continually supporting his efforts to build the program and make a positive impact on students’ lives, Doug says that “speech activities are a passion, and I’ve committed my professional life to building not only my program at WLW, but speech activities throughout the state of Michigan.” Twice elected as President of this organization, Doug has also sat on MIFA Council and chaired the IE Committee, which are just the most visible ways that he has been able to do just that. Doug also commented that “speech activities change lives for the better. They create citizens who are able to think critically and give them a voice to make change. Now, more than ever, speech activities are needed in classrooms throughout Michigan and the country to help us find solutions and build connections with people who think and see the world differently.”

Danielle Tier

Danielle Tier with assistant coach Mary Davis.

A former student who took part in speech activities in high school, Danielle Tier sums up the need for these activities when she says “as a student, it helped me gain confidence and poise. As a teacher and coach, I have seen students find their voices and become articulate, engaging, empathetic young adults. The forensics team is a home or special place for so many young people, rounding out their high school experience.”

In 15 years at Andover High School/Bloomfield Hills High School, Danielle has certainly made that home for many students. She began her work as an unofficial coach at Dexter High School from 1999-2005 and then began her head coach position at Andover. In her career so far, she has coached 9 State Championship Teams and over 20 State Champions.

Ken Weinstein

Ken Weinstein.

Ken Weinstein began his life in speech activities in Oregon, where he competed in Cross Examination (Policy) Debate, Impromptu, and Humorous Interpretation. With experiences as both a student and now a coach, Ken knows well the value of speech activities and says that “forensics is important to help build a young person’s confidence. I am amazed at the extent to which students come out of their shell and are willing to try new things after participating in Forensics for a short time.”

Although he expressed shock at having found out about his induction into the Hall of Fame, the honor is not a surprise when you consider his 16-year career at Leslie Public Schools, where he has fought to keep the program running in a small school district, where competition with sports and other activities is fierce. Ken serves the speech community as a MIFA Council, IE Committee, and Middle Level Committee member and sees success every day in watching individual students improve and reach personal bests.

Originally published in the MSCI Year in Review, May 2020.