Four Emerge as Award Winners at NSDA Nationals

This summer, four Gilmour students were prize winners in the National Speech and Debate Association’s national tournament, which were held virtually this year. 

Clara Morgan ’22 was the top finisher, placing third out of 536 competitors in the Prepared Prompt Speaking category. The category tasks competitors with composing a five-minute speech based on a quote they select from a provided list. 

Clara also finished as an octafinalist alongside her partner, Faith Smolik ’22, in the Duo Interpretation category. In this category, a pair of performers acts out a piece under certain constraints, including not making eye contact with and/or touching your partner, and not using props. 

Cayla See ’21, now studying forensic chemistry at Ohio University, made it to the Top 16 in the World Schools Debate category. World Schools Debate is a dynamic format combining “prepared” topics with “impromptu” topics, encouraging debaters to focus on specific issues rather than debate theory or procedural arguments, and allowing them to engage each other, even during speeches. 

Jackson Sturtevant ’21, currently a freshman public policy analysis major at The Ohio State University, was named an Academic All-American. The Academic All American award recognizes high school students who have earned the degree of Superior Distinction (750 points); completed at least five semesters of high school; demonstrated outstanding character and leadership; and earned a GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).