Help Orcas Debate Go to State

HELP SEND OUR CHAMPIONS TO STATE COMPETITION

— from Janet Brownell, OIEF —

The Orcas Island Education Foundation (OIEF) hopes you can help send one of our public high school teams to State. This team has been quietly, but steadily winning competition after competition. The playing field has been forensics — the team: the Debate Club.

In only its second year, the debate team has grown from seven to 12 members. They are: Devon Mann, Gunnar Sandwith, Emma Heikkinen, Benjamin Pollard, Rowan Lister, Kahana Pietsch, Nate Smith, Olivia Smith, Anneke Fleming, Paris Wilson, Emma Thoron, and Logan Babcock.

Here are few highlights from this season:

In just its second tournament, Devon Mann went undefeated and brought home a first place, earning her the team’s first state bid. Rowan Lister received a third in his first-ever congressional debate, while Emma Heikkinen was only a few speaker points away from a trophy.

The Snohomish tournament saw Gunnar Sandwith place second in open debate. Kahana Pietsch, also in his first-ever congressional debate, took a whopping first place, with Rowan Lister taking second.  And in an exciting debut, Olivia Smith competed in “Tall Tales” against seasoned speakers and brought home a third place.

The team ended the season with Anneke Fleming earning her bid to state by taking 2nd place in her division in her first attempt at LD debate and 1st place in Interpretive Reading. Benjamin Pollard trophied in novice Congress achieving a 3rd place.  Kahana Pietsch took 4th place in open Congress, earning him a place at the state tournament and Rowan Lister participated as well, being awarded a state bid after the fact. In very heated competition, Gunnar Sandwith earned himself the alternate position to go to state should another district competitor drop out.

Now it’s on to four levels of post-season competition:

Devon Mann and Gunnar Sandwith compete soon in the National qualifying tournament for debate. Rowan Lister earned a place to compete in a National qualifying congressional event held on the senate floor of the Washington Legislature. Devon, Rowan and Kahana Pietsch will compete at Gonzaga in the State level competitions, while Anneke Fleming competes in State “Interpretive Reading” in Tacoma the following weekend.

Debate Coach Joan Pedrick, says, “Participation in Debate and speech is enormously valuable for students, helping them develop critical thinking skills, improving research and writing abilities, and fostering innovative approaches to problem solving. I am so pleased with the progress of our team and our program.  The students are a joy to work with.”

The Debate Club season was funded this year by OIEF. But with four competitions in post season, in different locations, there is a need for additional funding of $3500. Again, OIEF has stepped up for the Debate Club. It will donate $1750 if that can be matched from donations from the community.

If you’d like to help send these amazing students to the state competitions, please send your donation to OIEF at POB 782, Eastsound WA 98245. Or give on line at: www.oief.org/donate/ (Click the GREEN button). Any gift will help. And GO VIKINGS!