Johnston hosts 2024 National Speech and Debate Tournament
Seven Johnston High School students qualify for nationals
By Lynn Meadows, JCSD Director of Communications
JOHNSTON, Ia. (April 3, 2024) — Johnston High School will be one the host schools for the 2024 National Speech & Debate Tournament, which will be held in the Greater Des Moines area this summer from June 16 to 21.
The event is expected to bring 6,700 high school and middle school students from 1,500 schools to the Greater Des Moines area, and will recognize 42 champions. Other host schools include Valley, Roosevelt, Waukee, Northwest and East high schools, along with Hiatt, Timberline and South middle schools, the Iowa Events Center and Downtown Hilton.
Johnston will not only be a host of the National Speech & Debate Tournament but a participant, as well. Johnston High School has seven students who have qualified for the national tournament.
“I think it’s absolutely incredible to have the National Tournament in Des Moines,” said Aravind Balaji, one of the qualifiers. “It gives us a home field advantage, and will help us excel this summer, regardless of what event we’re in.”
Advik Bajpai qualified for nationals in International Extemporaneous Speaking, where students are presented a choice of three questions related to international current events, and in 30 minutes prepare a 7-minute speech from memory, answering the selected question. Topics range from country-specific issues to regional concerns and foreign policy.
Ella Devine qualified for nationals in Dramatic Interpretation, where students use a play, short story or other published work to perform a selection of one or more portions of a piece up to 10 minutes in length. This focuses on a student’s ability to convey emotion through the use of dramatic text.
Shreyas Shrestha qualified for nationals in the House. He is a two-time national qualifier in Congressional Debate, where judges preside over a room of students as they simulate the United States Congress’ process for debating legislation. A typical round of Congress is 3 to 4 hours long.
Aravind Balaji qualified for nationals in the Senate. He, too, is a two-time national qualifier in Congressional Debate, judges preside over a room of students as they simulate the United States Congress’ process for debating legislation. A typical round of Congress is 3 to 4 hours long.
Corley Blackford qualified in Prose, where students use a short story, parts of a novel, or other published works of prose to construct a speech. She is a first-time qualifier.
Kathryn Fitzpatrick also qualified in Prose. This makes her only the second in Johnston history to be a 4-year qualifier for the national tournament.
Alan Qi qualified in World Schools Debate, a highly interactive style of debate that combines prepared topics with impromptu topics, encouraging debaters to focus on specific issues rather than debate theory or procedural arguments. He is a first-time qualifier.
In addition, Balaji is the first alternate for nationals in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking. Qi is the first alternate in Congress. Qi and Bajpai are first alternates in Public Forum, while Manasvi Dhanekula and Quinnlyn Schulte are second alternates.
Each year, the National Speech & Debate Tournament travels to a different major city across the United States. The event was held in Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona in 2023, and in Louisville, Kentucky in 2022.