February 23, 2024
The Mounds Park Academy Speech traveled to the prestigious Harvard University National Speech and Debate tournament this past weekend. The tournament included teams from 38 different states, categories exceeding 300 entries each, and is a precursor to the NSDA National Tournament in June. On one of the country’s largest stages in the activity, 14 MPA students shined through three days of competition. Congratulations to the following students on their outstanding achievements:
- Akshay Somayajula ’24: Top 100 Double-Octafinalist Oratory
- Amal Sastry ’25: Top 60 and tiebroken from Extemp Speaking Octafinals
- Nico Bergh ’27: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
- Guy Schwieger ’26: Top 50 and Octafinalist in Humorous
- Zainab Lodhi ’25: Top 25 and Quarterfinalist in Informative
- Ash Klann ’26: Seventh Place and Semifinalist in Oratory
- Paul Fertig ’25: Sixth Place and Finalist in Extemp Speaking
The Harvard National Tournament is considered the most prestigious high school Speech and Debate Tournament outside of the official National Tournament. In her speech accepting her nomination to the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson referenced her experience and success at the Harvard Tournament as the reason for her rise to National Champion, and eventually, the highest bench in the country.
