CHARLOTTE — Twenty-five members of Charlotte Catholic High School’s Debate and Speech Team attended the Sandhoke Early College Tournament Nov. 5 in Raeford, bringing home the second-place award in the Team Sweepstakes.
Approximately 275 competitors from 16 schools in the region attended the tourament. Individual awards were also given to: Jake Sheridan, first place, Varsity Lincoln-Douglas Debate; David Edwards, second place, Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Caleb Schilly, fourth place, Varsity Public Forum Debate; Charles Haltiwanger, fourth place, Varsity Public Forum Debate; TJ DiVittorio, fifth place, Varsity Public Forum Debate; Ramsay White, fifth place, Varsity Public Forum Debate; Connor Hudson, fifth place, Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate; Omeed Arooji, fifth place, Novice Public Forum Debate; Artie Burns, fifth place, Novice Public Forum; Darlene Singui-Tanyi, first place, Dramatic Interpretation, and third place, Program Oral Interpretation; Emily Ford, first place, Impromptu Speaking, and third place, Humorous Interpretation; Myia Le Grande, second place, Dramatic Interpretation; Brenna McBride, third place, Dramatic Interpretation; Devon Ngo, sixth place, Original Oratory; Mariana Rodriguez, third place, Novice Reading; and Samantha Pean, fifth place, Novice Reading.
The 68-member Debate and Speech Team also recently won special recognition from the National Speech & Debate Association. As members of the National Speech & Debate Association honor society, Charlotte Catholic students earn points and degrees based on competitive and service-related activities.
Degrees range from the Degree of Merit, with 25 or more points, to the Degree of Premier Distinction, with 1,500 or more points. Students achieved more than 100 degrees last year, and as a result, Charlotte Catholic’s chapter is ranked in the top 23 percent of schools nationwide.
— Carolyn Tillman