WCS students qualify for National Speech and Debate Tournament

Several Williamson County Schools students have qualified for the 2024 National Speech and Debate Tournament through state competitions. 

In March, a number of students qualified at the Tennessee National Speech and Debate Association's (NSDA) National Qualifying Event tournament. 

WCS students who placed in their category or were named as alternates for the national tournament in March are listed below:

Original Oratory

Matthew Greer, Brentwood High - First Place

Joanna Li, Brentwood High - Finalist and Third Alternate

Anika Pandey, Ravenwood High - Finalist and Fourth Alternate

International Extemporaneous Speaking

Wali Sidiqyar, Brentwood High - First Place

Grant Carpenter, Brentwood High - Third Place

Aryan Shaikh, Ravenwood High - Finalist and First Alternate

Public Forum Debate

Chetan Yenigalla and Vedant Misra, Ravenwood High - First Place

Kate Mize and Parsa Khairollahi, Brentwood High - Second Place

Neha Thanigaivelan and Ariana Martin, Brentwood High - Third Place

Ajay Balaje and Sophie McAtee, Ravenwood High - Fourth Place and First Alternate

Meredith Yount and Jasmine Merrikh, Brentwood High - Second Alternate

Grady Pazona and Paul Jude Schneider, Brentwood High - Third Alternate

US Extemporaneous Speaking

Sam Babu, Brentwood High - First Alternate

Arshia Malhotra, Brentwood High - Third Alternate

Program of Oral Interpretation

Joy Margaret Scheuren, Brentwood High - Fifth Alternate

Informative Speaking

Vandita Vatturi, Brentwood High - Fifth Alternate

Peniel Ogunde, Ravenwood High - Sixth Alternate

Duo Interpretation

Aditya Nandina and Aryan Gupta Pokal, Ravenwood High - Finalists and Second Alternate

Dramatic Interpretation

Caroline Moore, Summit High - Fourth Alternate

In April, more WCS students qualified through the NSDA National Qualifying Congress for Tennessee, the third event in the State's National Qualifying series.

There, students competed to claim one of four qualifying spots for the National Tournament. The competition was split into two chambers: House and Senate.

House

Presiding Officer: Samar Elhassan, Summit High

First: Jonathan Okokhere, Nolensville High

Third (Alternate): Natalie Chou, Brentwood High

Senate

First: Parsa Khairollahi, Brentwood High

Second: Jack Simon, Summit High

Third (Alternate): Harper Bailey, Summit High

The 2024 National Speech and Debate Tournament will take place in Des Moines, Iowa June 16-21.