35 MPS Students to Compete in National Speech and Debate Tournaments

35 Milwaukee Public Schools students will compete in two of the nation's top speech and debate tournaments after besting local competitors at regional tournaments, including one this past weekend, according to a release from MPS.

The MPS students include competitors from Lynde and Harry Bradley Technology and Trade High School, Rufus King International High School, Golda Meir School, Milwaukee High School of the Arts and Ronald Reagan College Preparatory High School.

Among the 35 winning MPS students, 19 have earned the right to attend the 2016 National Speech & Debate Tournament (NSDA) in Salt Lake City, Utah in June, most after taking top spots at the Southern Wisconsin regional speech tournament April 9 at Reagan. Twenty-eight of the students have qualified to attend the National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament in Sacramento, CA. Memorial day weekend.

Twelve MPS students have qualified for both tournaments.

"Speech and debate programs build lifelong skills including critical thinking and public speaking," MPS Superintendent Dr. Darienne Driver said. "Offering these programs is also part of providing a well-rounded high school education, which is critical to our strategic objective of rethinking high schools. Congratulations to the students, their families, their coaches and all of the members of the MPS family who have helped them along the way."

The 35 winning MPS students, their high schools, the tournaments in which they will compete and their categories are:

• Nzinga Acosta, Rufus King, NCFL: Oral Interpretation of Literature, NSDA: Program Oral Interpretation
• Seania Avery, Rufus King, NSDA: Duo Interpretation
• Celeste Beals, Rufus King, NCFL: Public Forum Debate
• Alanna Bielawski, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Oratorical Declamation
• Julia Brunson, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Original Oratory
• Keziah Carter, Bradley Tech, NCFL: Duo Interpretation of Literature
• N'namdi Carter, Bradley Tech, NSDA: Int'l Extemporaneous Speaking
• Morgan Coleman, Rufus King, NCFL: Public Forum Debate
• Steven Daniels, Bradley Tech: NCFL: Oral Interpretation of Literature
• Mae Edwards, Rufus King, NCFL: Congressional Debate
• Ruth Fetaw, Rufus King, NSDA: Duo Interpretation
• Collin Fetherston, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Extemporaneous Speaking, NSDA: U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
• Durran Goodwin, Rufus King, NCFL: Dramatic Interpretation
• Kalanni Grady, Rufus King: NSDA: Duo Interpretation
• Kenneth Guy, Rufus King, NCFL: Policy Debate, NSDA: Policy Debate
• Kirstin Hackbarth, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Oratorical Declamation
• Diamond Harris, Bradley Tech, NCFL: Duo Interpretation of Literature
• Fefe Jaber, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Duo Interpretation of Literature, NSDA: Humorous Interpretation
• Noelle Larson, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, NCFL: Oral Interpretation of Literature
• Kristen Leer, Ronald Reagan, NSDA: Informative
• Anne Liners, Ronald Reagan: NCFL: Oral Interpretation of Literature, NSDA: Oratory
• Cherise McMahon, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Oral Interpretation of Literature
• Janiyah Moore, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, NCFL: Dramatic Performance, NSDA: Dramatic Interpretation
• Audrey O'Brien, Rufus King, NCFL: Congressional Debate, NSDA: Congressional Debate
• Carleon Outlaw, Rufus King, NCFL: Dramatic Interpretation, NSDA: Duo Interpretation
• Jeremiah Patton, Rufus King, NCFL: Policy Debate
• Marissa Robertson, Milwaukee High School of the Arts, NCFL: Original Oratory
• Ishmael Robinson, Rufus King, NCFL: Policy Debate, NSDA: Policy Debate
• Nick Savage, Rufus King, NCFL: Policy Debate
• Jaya Sims, Golda Meir, NSDA: U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking
• Talithia Taylor Hicks, Rufus King, NSDA: Dramatic Interpretation
• Harrison Tremarello, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Extemporaneous Speaking, NSDA: International Extemporaneous Speaking
• Joe Vitrano, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Duo Interpretation of Literature, NSDA: Humorous Interpretation
• Amber Weissert, Ronald Reagan, NCFL: Dramatic Performance
• Chue Feng Yang, Rufus King, NCFL: Lincoln Douglas Debate, NSDA: Congressional Debate