Description
In this issue, we share stories of students, coaches, and alumni who are pursuing their passion and driving impact through the purpose they have found in speech and debate. In our cover story, we learn more about Navajo Preparatory School in New Mexico and how coach John Russell has led the team by championing his students’ competitive accomplishments as well as their bravery, humility, and grit shown in other ways. We invite several speech and debate alumni to share how the activity contributed to their ability to find their purpose later in life and what aspects of their speech and debate training they actively use today. Matthew Zhang, the student founder of Omega Speech and Debate, speaks with us about providing greater access to the activity while expanding service initiatives in his New Jersey community and beyond. Deborah Garoui, coach at Brownfield High School in Texas, shares her journey of overcoming personal adversity and how a shift in perspective helped her pitch speech and debate as a place for those with something to say, a desire to make change, and a unique point of view. In our newest segment, Faces in the Crowd, we highlight individuals whose everyday actions embody the NSDA’s core value of equity and inclusion and help make speech and debate a more inclusive activity. We also share a staff profile on Lisa Vossekuil, who has shared her exceptional superpowers of customer service and care with literally tens of thousands of people over the past 20 years.
Volume 97, Issue 4 (76 pages)
Rostrum shares best practices, resources, and opportunities that connect, support, and inspire a diverse community of educators committed to empowering students through speech and debate.
