Speech & Debate

The Speech & Debate team is an after-school, co-curricular activity designed to build the communication skills of all members.
This activity offers something for everyone. If you like acting, arguing, reading, researching, writing, or just meeting people this team is for you. Club members are eligible for local, state, and national competitions.


 

News

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Pres Speech and Debate Dominates at Stanford Competition
Pres Speech and Debate Dominates at Stanford Competition
Congratulations to our Speech & Debate team who competed at the @Stanford Speech & Debate Invitational this weekend and shined! Awesome job, Panthers!

🥇Nikitha Kalahasti🥇: Tournament CHAMPION in both International Extemp and
Impromptu Speaking, 3rd Place in Nation Extemp
🏆Meghan Bedi: 3rd Place in Oratorical Interpretation
🏆Grace Gallego: 4th in JV Expository Speaking
🏆Danya Balagopal: 6th in JV Expository Speaking
🏆Sabine Laurence: Semifinalist in Program Oral Interpretation
🏆Arni Kulkarni: Semifinalist in Original Oratory
🏆Gabby Cortezano: Semifinalist in Expository Speaking
🏆Caitlin Gorin: Top Presiding Officer in Congressional Debate
🏆Michelle Nguyen: Semifinalist in Congressional Debate
🏆Hannah Ni and Tanaya Nawathe: Triple Octafinalist in Public Forum Debate
🏆Monica Schneck: Triple Octafinalist in Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Read More about Pres Speech and Debate Dominates at Stanford Competition
Speech and Debate District Honors and Qualifiers
Speech and Debate District Honors and Qualifiers

Two California Coast District Honors were awarded to the Speech and Debate team as they attended the National Speech and Debate Association Qualifying Tournament for NSDA Nationals in June.

Assistant Director, Brandon Garrett was named the District Coach of the Year for his leadership in the District and the success of Presentation students throughout the year.

Team President and Senior, Aarushi Sahejpal, who is already auto-qualified to the National Tournament for advancing to the Final Round of last years National Tournament in Congressional Debate, was named the District Student of the Year both for her performances as well as the leadership she has demonstrated over the past year.

In addition to these awards, Aarushi will be joined this June at Nationals by Seniors Megan Munce and Laurenn Vives who qualified at the tournament in Public Forum Debate!

Also competing and advancing to elimination rounds and serving as Tournament alternates were:

  • Finalist and 3rd alternate in Dramatic Interp: Anisha Reimert
  • Finalist and 2nd Alternate in Humorous Interp: Anisha Reimert
  • Finalist and 2nd Alternate in International Extemp: Nikitha Kalahasti
  • Semifinalist and 4th Alternate in Informative: Shannon Miranda
  • Shachi Prasad and Regina Ta were both 14th overall and missed the Semifinals by only 2 ranks

Congrats to the team and coaches!

Read More about Speech and Debate District Honors and Qualifiers

Competition

Coast Forensic League
Presentation competes in the Coast Forensic League, the most competitive district in the State, as well as the California Coast NFL League, the second most competitive district in the entire country.

National Forensic League
Students in Speech and Debate also become members of the National Forensic League, one of the most prestigious honors societies that high school students can be a part of.

Rhetoric Class

This semester-long course for ninth graders is an introduction to public speaking and argumentation. Students will be exposed to various written and oral techniques of persuasion, argumentation, exposition, discussion, and analysis of controversial current issues. For more information, click here.

Club Moderators

Jyleesa Hampton

Director of Speech & Debate
jhampton@presentationhs.org