2024 National Speech & Debate Champions
High School National Champions
Speech Events
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
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
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
in Minnesota
Coached by Anita Ukpokolo and the White Bear Lake Coaching Staff
Humorous Interpretation
George Matthew Gutierrez from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Informative Speaking
Sierra Gautreaux from David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy in Louisiana
Coached by Jacob Leger and Brittany Turner
Coached by Jacob Leger and Brittany Turner
A. C. Eley International Extemporaneous Speaking
Anthony Babu from Concord Carlisle High School in Massachusetts
Coached by Tim Averill and Shannon Babu
Coached by Tim Averill and Shannon Babu
Pam and Joe Wycoff Original Oratory
Esther Oyetunji from American Heritage Broward High School in Florida
Coached by Ryan Levesque and Joele Denis
Coached by Ryan Levesque and Joele Denis
Program Oral Interpretation
Victory Okoroji from Hastings High School in Texas
Coached by Larrisha “Birdie” McDonnough
Coached by Larrisha “Birdie” McDonnough
Carmendale Fernandes United States Extemporaneous Speaking
Téa Shouldice from Half Hollow Hills High School East in New York
Coached by Melinda McCormack
Coached by Melinda McCormack
Debate Events
Congressional Debate – House
Fadhil Lawal from Seven Lakes High School in Texas
Coached by Bryce Piotrowski and Calen Cabler
Coached by Bryce Piotrowski and Calen Cabler
Congressional Debate – Senate
Arnav Misra from Miramonte High School in California
Coached by Kristen Plant
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Calista Woo from Mountain View High School in California
Coached by Julie Herman
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. Same-school closeout resulting in co-champions
Coached by Aaron Langerman, Tyler Vergho, Ani Prabhu, and Adarsh Hiremath
Coached by Aaron Langerman, Tyler Vergho, Ani Prabhu, and Adarsh Hiremath
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
World Schools Debate
August Kleiboeker, Quinn Smith, Trisha Tewari, Kwaku Asare-Bawuah, and Imani Lwali from Ozark Red
Coached by Karissa Talty
Coached by Karissa Talty
Big Questions Debate
Talia Askenazi from Arlington High School in Massachusetts
Coached by Donald H. Broussard, Jr.
Coached by Donald H. Broussard, Jr.
Supplemental Events
Brother René Sterner Commentary
Jonah Downs from Trinity Preparatory School in Florida
Coached by Benjamin Gaddis, Julia Hren, and Quinn McKenzie
Expository Speaking
Sebastian Blanco from Downers Grove South High School in Illinois
Coached by Justin Matkovich, Jan Heiteen, and Elighie Wilson
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
Coached by Parker Hopkins, Jaggard Williams, Alicia Stout, Kristen Stout, Graham Revare, Eric Morris, Talyna Morris, and Bobby Phillips
Impromptu
Madeline White from Gwynedd Mercy Academy in Pennsylvania
Coached by Danielle Greenberg and Jill Dougherty
Coached by Danielle Greenberg and Jill Dougherty
Original Spoken Word Poetry
Alex Mohr from Louisville High School in Ohio
Coached by Katy Russell and Jake Zartman
Coached by Katy Russell and Jake Zartman
Poetry Reading
Abena Bonsu from Lincoln East High School in Nebraska
Coached by Nick Herink and Elle Bart
Coached by Nick Herink and Elle Bart
Prose Reading
Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Storytelling
Sadie Jensen from Harlingen High School South in Texas
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Coached by Eddy Cavazos and John Harper Reynolds
Middle School National Champions
Congressional Debate
Brooke Carlson from Kenston Middle in Ohio
Coached by Stephan Voudris, Shannon Carlson, and Samuel Berlin
Coached by Stephan Voudris, Shannon Carlson, and Samuel Berlin
Declamation
Brayden Barraza-Rodriguez from Edgewood Middle in California
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
Dramatic Interpretation
Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
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
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Humorous Interpretation
Apollo Meneses from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Impromptu Speaking
Quinlan Iwasaka from Rosemont Middle School in California
Coached by Mike Kyle
Coached by Mike Kyle
Informative Speaking
Veda Bharath from Chaboya Middle School in California
Coached by Mariela Garcia-Alvarado, Salvador Tinajero, and the Advantage Communications Team
Coached by Mariela Garcia-Alvarado, Salvador Tinajero, and the Advantage Communications Team
Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Jason Kuo from BASIS Independent Middle in California
Coached by Steven Leal and Jennifer Cho
Coached by Steven Leal and Jennifer Cho
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
Coached by Hannah Wilson, Nathan Fleming, Jenny Achten, Greg Achten, and Scott Odekirk
Original Oratory
Annette Lee from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Original Spoken Word Poetry
Rachael McCall from Cabot Junior High North in Arkansas
Coached by Tiffany Tucker
Poetry
Gabriella Otero from American Heritage Broward MS in Florida
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Policy Debate
James Pan & Charlie Pan from Palos Verdes Intermediate School in California
Coached by Scott Wheeler
Coached by Scott Wheeler
Program Oral Interpretation
Natalie Hong from Parks Junior High in California
Coached by Adriena Toghia, Amelia Burns, and Mariela Garcia-Alvarado
Prose
Darcy Lam from Edgewood Middle in California
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
Coached by Sal Tinajero and Emily Benavides
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
Coached by Joele Denis, Charese Folks, Ryan Levesque, Spencer Orlowski, and Thadeus Smith
Storytelling
Oliver Berg from Orono Middle School in Minnesota
Coached by Barbara Shofner and Nicolle Berg
Coached by Barbara Shofner and Nicolle Berg
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
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
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.
