The Ladue Horton Watkins High School Speech and Debate Team completed their regular season with three weeks of district tournaments. After three weeks of intense competition, the team qualified four entries to the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) State Tournament and two entries to the National Forensics League (NFL) National Tournament.
MSHSAA State Qualifiers
- Benjamin Collinger and Rasika Sant: Policy Debate
- Emily Chu: Radio Speaking (Also MSHSAA District Champion in this category. Shown at left.)
- Miriam Hauptman: Prose Reading
- Shira Morosohk: Original Oratory
NFL National Qualifiers
- Benjamin Collinger: Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking
- Miriam Hauptman: Domestic Extemporaneous Speaking
- Hanlu Jin: Congressional Debate
In addition to the national qualifiers, the speech and debate team won 2nd place in Congressional Debate Sweepstakes and the Eastern Missouri District Trophy Points Award. The award recognizes cumulative participation in rounds at the district tournament past preliminary rounds – after a school wins the award, their total is reset to zero. Ladue won this year’s award with over 1,000 points.
Chloe An was named the Eastern Missouri District Student of the Year. Each school may nominate one senior as a Student of the Year candidate. The award recognizes service to the school and community as well as upholding the tenets of the NFL Honor Code – integrity, humility, resect, leadership, and service. Chloe will now represent Eastern Missouri in the National Student of the Year competition!