SPEECH & DEBATE
I developed most of my speaking skills after joining Mars Hill Speech & Debate club (in 2011) and becoming a member of Stoa, a national home-school Speech and Debate league (stoausa.org). The word "Stoa" refers to Stoa Basileios, the type of building where the apostle Paul gave his famous Areopagus sermon in Acts 17. In the ancient Athenian culture, this pillared porch area provided grounds for rhetorical speaking concerning morality, philosophy, and religion.
Stoa's mission is very similar: to train Christian home-schooled youth in speech and debate to better communicate a Biblical world view.
I have competed in several events including Apologetics, Dramatic Interpretation, Storytelling, Persuasive Speaking, Mars Hill Impromptu, Duo Interpretation, Cold Reading, Monologue, Open Interpretation, Lincoln Douglas Value Debate, and Team Policy Debate.
Monologue | "An Original Masterpiece"
​The event, Monologue, was a temporary two-year event in the Stoa league. The goal of this event was to bring a piece of literature to life through in-depth characterization. I was blessed to win first place at the national tournament in this event for the 2015-16 competitive season.
Persuasive | "Shopping Locally"
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A persuasive speech written and memorized by the competitor which advocates for a specific position or course of action. I was delighted to receive third place at the national tournament in this event for the 2016-17 season.
Duo Interpretation | "Well With My Soul"
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In the even Duo Interpretation, two competitors create an original rendition of a story from a selection of literature which captivates and moves the audience. My sister Sarah and I were honored to be recognized as national champions of this event at the 2014-15 national tournament.
Apologetics |
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In Apologetics, the competitor is given four minutes to prepare a persuasive and reasoned speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith and explains why that principle matters. I was blessed to win first place in this event at the 2016-2017 national tournament.
Notable Achievements
Throughout my six years of competition, I received the title "national champion" for at least one event in each speech category Stoa USA offers (Duo Interpretation in 2015, Monologue in 2016, Apologetics in 2017, Persuasive in 2018, and Mars Hill Impromptu in 2018).
2017-2018 Season | Events: Apologetics, Mars Hill Impromptu, Cold Reading, Open Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Team Policy
Overall Combined Speech and Debate Rankings National Runner-Up
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9th Place in Apologetics at the National Invitation Tournament of Champions (NITOC)
1st Place in Apologetics at Cactus Clash
2nd Place in Apologetics at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Apologetics at The Escalade
3rd Place in Cold Reading at Point Loma Challenge
1st Place in Cold Reading at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Cold Reading at The Escalade
4th Place in Dramatic Interpretation at NITOC
1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Point Loma Challenge
2nd Place in Dramatic Interpretation at The Desert Gem
4th Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Concordia Challenge
1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Clash PLUS
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at NITOC
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at Corcordia Challenge
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at The Escalade
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at Clash PLUS
4th Place in Open Interpretation at NITOC
4th Place in Open Interpretation at Christmas Colloquium
1st Place in Open Interpretation at The Desert Gem
3rd Place in Open Interpretation at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Open Interpretaion at The Escalade
1st Place in Persuasive at NITOC
3rd Place in Persuasive at Point Loma Classic
2nd Place in Persuasive at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Persuasive at The Escalade
1st Place in Persuasive at Clash PLUS
11th Place in Team Policy Debate at NITOC (7-5 Record)
1st Place in Team Policy Debate at Cactus Clash (6-0 Prelim Record)
10th Place in Team Policy Debate at Inland Club Challenge (4-2 Prelim Record)
3rd Place in Team Policy Debate at The Escalade (6-0 Prelim Record)
2nd Place in Team Policy Debate at Clash PLUS (5-1 Prelim Record)
17th Place in Team Policy Speaker at NITOC
3rd Place Team Policy Speaker at Veritas Veterans Day Challenge
1st Place Team Policy Speaker at Cactus Clash
3rd Place Team Policy Speaker at The Escalade
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2016-2017 Season | Events: Apologetics, Mars Hill Impromptu, Cold Reading, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Team Policy
Overall Combined Speech and Debate Rankings National Runner-Up
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1st Place in Apologetics at NITOC
1st Place in Apologetics at the Desert Gem
1st Place in Cold Reading at the Inland Club Challenge
4th Place in Cold Reading at NITOC
1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Inland Club Challenge
3rd Place in Dramatic Interpretation at NITOC
1st Place in Duo Interpretation at Centennial Challenge
3rd Place n Duo Interpretation at Inland Club Challenge
1st Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at Centennial Challenge
4th Place in Mars Hill Impromptu at NITOC
1st Place in Persuasive Speaking at Inland Club Challenge
3rd Place in Persuasive Speaking at NITOC
4th Place in Team Policy at Point Loma Classic (5-1 Prelim Record)
3rd Place Team Policy at Concordia Challenge (6-0 Prelim Record)
2nd Place Team Policy at Camelback Classic (4-2 Prelim Record)
1st Place Team Policy Speaker at Concordia Challenge
1st Place Team Policy Speaker at Camelback Classic
Overall Combined Speech & Debate Rankings National Runner-up
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2015-2016 Season | Events: Apologetics, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Persuasive Speaking, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Monologue
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Overall Combined Speech & Debate Rankings 8th Place Competitor
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3rd Place in Apologetics at Camelback Classic
10th Place in Apologetics at Concordia Challenge
1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Concordia Challenge
1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Inland Club Challenge
6th Place in Dramatic Interpretation at NITOC
1st Place in Duo Interpretation at Christmas Colloquium
3rd Place in Duo Interpretation at Point Loma Classic
10th Place in Duo Interpretation at NITOC
6th Place in Lincoln Douglas Debate at The BIg WHig
1st Place in Monologue at Concordia Challenge
1st Placce in Monologue at NITOC
2nd Place in Persuasive Speaking at Concordia Challenge
9th Place in Persuasive Speaking at NITOC
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2014-2015 Season | Events: Apologetics, Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Expository Speaking
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1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Point Loma Classic
2nd Place in Dramatic Interpretation at NITOC
1st Place in Duo Interpretation at NITOC
1st Place in Expository Speaking at Point Loma Classic
3rd Place in Expository Speaking at NITOC
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2013-2014 Season | Events: Duo Interpretation, Dramatic Interpretation, Storytelling
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2nd Place in Dramatic Interpretation at Rocky Mountain Classic
3rd Place in Dramatic Interpretation at NITOC
2nd Place in Storytelling at Camelback Classic
4th Place in Storytelling at NITOC
6th Place in Duo Interpretation at The Desert Gem
14th Place in Duo Interpretaion at NITOC
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