Upper School Speech and Debate Team Celebrates a Standout Season

This week, the Berkeley Carroll community gathered at Lincoln Place for a festive potluck dinner honoring the Upper School Speech and Debate team and their incredible achievements throughout the 2024–25 season. Families, friends, and faculty came together to celebrate a remarkable year that spanned from the Yale Invitational in September to the upcoming National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Championships in June—the largest academic competition in the world.

This season, nine BC students qualified for the New York State Championship, and eleven advanced to national tournaments, including the National Catholic Forensic League Championship in Chicago and the NSDA Nationals.

Notably, Molly C. ’25 took 3rd place at the prestigious University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions, with fellow teammate Daniela H. ’25 also reaching the semifinal round. 

Congratulations to our state and national qualifiers:

State Championship Qualifiers (9):

• Charlie A. ’28 – Student Congress
   
• August A. ’28 – Declamation (Semifinalist)
   
• Isabel C. ’28 – Declamation
   
• Nate F. ’28 – Declamation
   
• Tobias L. ’28 – JV Extemporaneous Speaking
   
• Mia S. ’28 – Student Congress
   
• Cameron B. ’25 – Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking
   
• Molly C. ’25 – Original Oratory (Semifinalist)
   
• Daniela H. ’25 – Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking
   

National Catholic Forensic League Championship Qualifiers (11):

• August A. ’28 – Declamation
   
• Isabel C. ’28 – Declamation
   
• Nate F. ’28 – Declamation
   
• Tobias L. ’28 – Extemporaneous Speaking
   
• Elle C. ’27 – Dramatic Performance
   
• Jaylen H.P. ’26 – Public Forum Debate
   
• Willow A. ’25 – Dramatic Performance
   
• Josef B. ’25 – Public Forum Debate
   
• Molly C. ’25 – Original Oratory
   
• Devra G. ’25 – Original Oratory
   
• Daniela H. ’25 – Extemporaneous Speaking
   

Daniela H. is also Berkeley Carroll’s sole qualifier for the NSDA National Championship in June—a remarkable achievement!

Bravo to all our speech and debate students.