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2024 National Speech & Debate Champions

2024 Circle of Champions

High School National Champions

Speech Events

Karla Rivera from Harlingen High School South in Texas<br />
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds<br />

Lanny D. and B. J. Naegelin Dramatic Interpretation

Karla Rivera from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Mariam Elias-Danjuma and Sanyu Mwassa from White Bear Lake Area High School<br />
in Minnesota<br />
Coached by Anita Ukpokolo and the White Bear Lake Coaching Staff<br />

Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr. Duo Interpretation

Mariam Elias-Danjuma and Sanyu Mwassa from White Bear Lake Area High School
in Minnesota
Coached by Anita Ukpokolo and the White Bear Lake Coaching Staff
George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen High School South in Texas<br />
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds<br />

Humorous Interpretation

George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Sierra Gautreaux from David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy in Louisiana<br />
Coached by Jacob Leger and Brittany Turner<br />

Informative Speaking

Sierra Gautreaux from David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy in Louisiana
Coached by Jacob Leger and Brittany Turner
Anthony Babu from Concord Carlisle High School in Massachusetts<br />
Coached by Tim Averill and Shannon Babu<br />

A. C. Eley International Extemporaneous Speaking

Anthony Babu from Concord Carlisle High School in Massachusetts
Coached by Tim Averill and Shannon Babu
Esther Oyetunji from American Heritage Broward High School in Florida<br />
Coached by Ryan Levesque and Joele Denis<br />

Pam and Joe Wycoff Original Oratory

Esther Oyetunji from American Heritage Broward High School in Florida
Coached by Ryan Levesque and Joele Denis
Victory Okoroji from Hastings High School in Texas<br />
Coached by Larrisha “Birdie” McDonnough<br />

Program Oral Interpretation

Victory Okoroji from Hastings High School in Texas
Coached by Larrisha “Birdie” McDonnough
Téa Shouldice from Half Hollow Hills High School East in New York<br />
Coached by Melinda McCormack<br />

Carmendale Fernandes United States Extemporaneous Speaking

Téa Shouldice from Half Hollow Hills High School East in New York
Coached by Melinda McCormack

Debate Events

Fadhil Lawal from Seven Lakes High School in Texas<br />
Coached by Bryce Piotrowski and Calen Cabler<br />

Congressional Debate – House

Fadhil Lawal from Seven Lakes High School in Texas
Coached by Bryce Piotrowski and Calen Cabler
Arnav Misra from Miramonte High School in California<br />
Coached by Kristen Plant<br />

Congressional Debate – Senate

Arnav Misra from Miramonte High School in California
Coached by Kristen Plant

Calista Woo from Mountain View High School in California<br />
Coached by Julie Herman<br />

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Calista Woo from Mountain View High School in California
Coached by Julie Herman

The team of Surya Krishnapillai and Rohan Lingam and the team of Andrew Huang and Shae McInnis from Bellarmine College Preparatory in California<br />
Coached by Aaron Langerman, Tyler Vergho, Ani Prabhu, and Adarsh Hiremath<br />

Richard B. Sodikow Policy Debate

The team of Surya Krishnapillai and Rohan Lingam and the team of Andrew Huang and Shae McInnis from Bellarmine College Preparatory in California
Coached by Aaron Langerman, Tyler Vergho, Ani Prabhu, and Adarsh Hiremath
William Brown and Ben Hodges from Durham Academy in North Carolina<br />
Coached by Crawford Leavoy, Rachel Mauchline, Elliott Beamer, Raiyan Choudhury, and Anisha Musti<br />

Public Forum Debate

William Brown and Ben Hodges from Durham Academy in North Carolina
Coached by Crawford Leavoy, Rachel Mauchline, Elliott Beamer, Raiyan Choudhury, and Anisha Musti

August Kleiboeker, Quinn Smith, Trisha Tewari, Kwaku Asare-Bawuah, and Imani Lwali from Ozark Red<br />
Coached by Karissa Talty<br />

World Schools Debate

August Kleiboeker, Quinn Smith, Trisha Tewari, Kwaku Asare-Bawuah, and Imani Lwali from Ozark Red
Coached by Karissa Talty
Talia Askenazi from Arlington High School in Massachusetts<br />
Coached by Donald H. Broussard, Jr.<br />

Big Questions Debate

Talia Askenazi from Arlington High School in Massachusetts
Coached by Donald H. Broussard, Jr.

Supplemental Events

Jonah Downs from Trinity Preparatory School in Florida<br />
Coached by Benjamin Gaddis, Julia Hren, and Quinn McKenzie<br />

​Brother René Sterner Commentary

Jonah Downs from Trinity Preparatory School in Florida
Coached by Benjamin Gaddis, Julia Hren, and Quinn McKenzie

Sebastian Blanco from Downers Grove South High School in Illinois<br />
Coached by Justin Matkovich, Jan Heiteen, and Elighie Wilson<br />

Expository Speaking

Sebastian Blanco from Downers Grove South High School in Illinois
Coached by Justin Matkovich, Jan Heiteen, and Elighie Wilson

Mason Renner from The Pembroke Hill School in Missouri<br />
Coached by Parker Hopkins, Jaggard Williams, Alicia Stout, Kristen Stout, Graham Revare, Eric Morris, Talyna Morris, and Bobby Phillips<br />

Extemporaneous Debate

Mason Renner from The Pembroke Hill School in Missouri
Coached by Parker Hopkins, Jaggard Williams, Alicia Stout, Kristen Stout, Graham Revare, Eric Morris, Talyna Morris, and Bobby Phillips
Madeline White from Gwynedd Mercy Academy in Pennsylvania<br />
Coached by Danielle Greenberg and Jill Dougherty<br />

Impromptu

Madeline White from Gwynedd Mercy Academy in Pennsylvania
Coached by Danielle Greenberg and Jill Dougherty
Alex Mohr from Louisville High School in Ohio<br />
Coached by Katy Russell and Jake Zartman<br />

Original Spoken Word Poetry

Alex Mohr from Louisville High School in Ohio
Coached by Katy Russell and Jake Zartman
Abena Bonsu from Lincoln East High School in Nebraska<br />
Coached by Nick Herink and Elle Bart<br />

Poetry Reading

Abena Bonsu from Lincoln East High School in Nebraska
Coached by Nick Herink and Elle Bart
Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas<br />
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds<br />

Prose Reading

Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas<br />
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds<br />

Storytelling

Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds

Middle School National Champions

Brooke Carlson from Kenston Middle in Ohio<br />
Coached by Stephan Voudris, Shannon Carlson, and Samuel Berlin<br />

Congressional Debate

Brooke Carlson from Kenston Middle in Ohio
Coached by Stephan Voudris, Shannon Carlson, and Samuel Berlin
Brayden Barraza-Rodriguez from Edgewood Middle in California<br />
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides<br />

Declamation

Brayden Barraza-Rodriguez from Edgewood Middle in California
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida<br />
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith<br />

Dramatic Interpretation

Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Mathis Rothschild & Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida<br />
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith<br />

Duo Interpretation

Mathis Rothschild & Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Apollo Meneses from Parks Junior High in California<br />
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado<br />

Humorous Interpretation

Apollo Meneses from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Quinlan Iwasaka from Rosemont Middle School in California<br />
Coached by Mike Kyle<br />

Impromptu Speaking

Quinlan Iwasaka from Rosemont Middle School in California
Coached by Mike Kyle
Veda Bharath from Chaboya Middle School in California<br />
Coached by Mariela Garcia-Alvarado, Salvador Tinajero, and the Advantage Communications Team<br />

Informative Speaking

Veda Bharath from Chaboya Middle School in California
Coached by Mariela Garcia-Alvarado, Salvador Tinajero, and the Advantage Communications Team
Jason Kuo from BASIS Independent Middle in California<br />
Coached by Steven Leal and Jennifer Cho<br />

Lincoln-Douglas Debate

Jason Kuo from BASIS Independent Middle in California
Coached by Steven Leal and Jennifer Cho
Aanya Mohta from Lake Middle School in Minnesota<br />
Coached by Katie Scholz

Mixed Extemporaneous Speaking

Rory Hu from The Harker Middle School in California
Coached by Hannah Wilson, Nathan Fleming, Jenny Achten, Greg Achten, and Scott Odekirk
Annette Lee from Parks Junior High in California<br />
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado<br />

Original Oratory

Annette Lee from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado

Rachael McCall from Cabot Junior High North in Arkansas<br />
Coached by Tiffany Tucker<br />

Original Spoken Word Poetry

Rachael McCall from Cabot Junior High North in Arkansas
Coached by Tiffany Tucker

Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida<br />
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith<br />

Poetry

Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
James Pan & Charlie Pan from Palos Verdes Intermediate School in California<br />
Coached by Scott Wheeler<br />

Policy Debate

James Pan & Charlie Pan from Palos Verdes Intermediate School in California
Coached by Scott Wheeler
Natalie Hong from Parks Junior High in California<br />
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado<br />

Program Oral Interpretation

Natalie Hong from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado

Darcy Lam from Edgewood Middle in California<br />
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides<br />

Prose

Darcy Lam from Edgewood Middle in California
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
Rachel Cohen & Anthony Fateev from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida<br />
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith<br />

Public Forum Debate

Rachel Cohen & Anthony Fateev from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Oliver Berg from Orono Middle School in Minnesota<br />
Coached by Barbara Shofner and Nicolle Berg<br />

Storytelling

Oliver Berg from Orono Middle School in Minnesota
Coached by Barbara Shofner and Nicolle Berg
Alina Robinson, Calvin Massey, Talia Simon, and Neilson Chien from Tierra Linda Middle School in California<br />
Coached by Collin Tuerk, Gianna Colby, and Marty De<br />

World Schools Debate

Alina Robinson, Calvin Massey, Talia Simon, and Neilson Chien from Tierra Linda Middle School in California
Coached by Collin Tuerk, Gianna Colby, and Marty De

National Student of the Year

2024 National Student of the Year, Beneyam Hassen, Sioux Falls Jefferson High School, South Dakota

2024 National Student of the Year

Beneyam Hassen

The William Woods Tate, Jr., National Student of the Year award, presented by Richard Bitner in honor of David Price, is one of the most honorable and renowned student awards presented by the National Speech & Debate Association. The Student of the Year is awarded to a graduating senior member who has been honored as a District Student of the Year and who best represents the tenets of the Association’s Code of Honor: humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service.

Learn more about Student of the Year »

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