Exciting news—one of our students, Chloe Kwan, just reached Premier Distinction, the highest degree in the National Speech & Debate Association Honor Society! Please join us in congratulating Chloe on this outstanding achievement. Fewer than 3% of NSDA members earn Premier Distinction prior to graduation! This milestone is a celebration of the hundreds of hours Chloe has spent preparing, practicing, and competing to hone her communication and leadership skills.
In addition to an incredible finish to her high school debate career, Alex Huang also had the honor of being the 2023 recipient of the Julia Burke Award. The Award is given to reward debaters not only for their hard work and outstanding performance in debate, but also their kind hearts and dedication to inclusion. Being in the activity for 6 years, Alex Huang has consistently been the model for character and kindness in an activity filled with high stakes and competitive attitudes. A “goofball” (-Yao Yao Chen) to her core, there is no debater more deserving of this high honor.
Late April 2023, Tournament of Champions, University of Kentucky
LASA CH (Seniors Sam Church and Alex Huang) finished their careers by WINNING the TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS. Previously, the farthest LASA had made it was OCTAS. After going 6-1 in prelims and being the 2nd seed going into elims, they won finals on a 2-1, going out for the girls. Sam was 4th speaker and Alex was 8th, a high honor for the national tournament.
LASA KL (Senior Chloe Kwan and Sophomore Samantha Low) also said goodbye to a member, with Chloe Kwan winning her last ever debate on a theoretically questionable counterplan!
LASA BF (Junior Eleanor Barrett and Sophomore Bilal Faisal) also had an awesome tournament, with Eleanor being 11th speaker.
LASA LB (Junior Lucy Loehr and Sophomore Christian Bohmer) also qualified, learning a lot and having a blast.
This was the most winning-ness season in LASA history, and we could not be more thankful for the people that made it happen. Apart from our incredible volunteer head coach Yao Yao Chen and our severely underpaid assistant coaches David Kilpatrick and Arnav Kashyap, LASA had a host of coaches step up and help out including literal genius Eu Giampetruzzi, card cutting king Holland Bald, and peak strategist Shreyas Rajagopal.
While at the tournament LASA also received MOUNTAINS of help and support from fellow competitors Daniel Gallagher, Nihar Abhyankar, Mahi Shah, Zoey Walsh, the debaters at Interlake, and MANY debaters from Emory. We could not have done it without this love and support and we will never forget it.
Well done, LASA Debate!