District S&D

P-Russ's recap:

SUBJECT: NPS S&D is headed to Nationals! 🏆🦅🥳

Greetings, all,

I hope everyone has had a wonderful break. As much as I needed some rest and relaxation, I was delighted to hit the road (albeit in a blizzard!) with the Gavelin' Eagles for the last NM competition of the season yesterday -- the two-day New Mexico District Speech and Debate National Qualifying Tournament down at Albuquerque Academy. Turnout was low, in large part due to the timing, but nevertheless... what a way to cap off our rookie year!

• Natashia Anderson and Jordyn Begay have qualified to represent New Mexico at the 99th annual National Speech & Debate Tournament (to be held in Phoenix in mid-June) in World Schools Debate! This is a unique team event based off a variety of global traditions (how appropriate for an IB school!). Over the next couple months, Natashia and Jordyn will collaborate with students from across the state to prepare their cases. New Mexico has actually placed first in the country in this event before, so it is an incredibly prestigious way for the Gavelin' Eagles to make their debut on the national stage!

• Natashia was also 2nd in the District in Dramatic Interpretation, which means she technically double qualified for Nationals!!! However, since students can only single-register at Nationals (thanks, Josh Gad...), her spot will go to someone else. Still, this is an absolutely astounding achievement. Qualifying in your first year at all is an amazing feat, and double qualifying as a rookie is almost unheard of. Plus, it was only Natashia's second time ever competing in this event!

• Aspyn Kaskalla is New Mexico's 2nd alternate to Nationals for Big Questions! BQ is another great event for an IB-school, as it's basically TOK meets debate. Amazingly, this was only Aspyn's second time competing in this event too! I guess for the Gavelin' Eagles, second time's a charm!

• Captains Niejah Davis and Tamarron Austin are New Mexico's 2nd alternates to Nationals for Policy! Policy is a 2-on-2 debate that is arguably the most challenging event in the entire Speech & Debate world. Niejah gave it a try once back in October, but this was Tamarron's first time ever attempting it. They actually signed up as a sacrifice just to help NM meet the minimum number of teams required to be able to send students to Nationals in this event, so we are especially proud of how well they did.

• Tamarron is also New Mexico's 3rd alternate for Humorous Interpretation! Wanna guess how many times he's done this event before? If you guessed that this was his second time, you've been paying attention!

• Major props also to Ciera Charley and Rodericka Hale-Toledo, who did us proud in the highly competitive event of Informative Speaking. Aspyn performed admirably in this event as well.

It's hard to top a showing like that, but there were two other exciting developments involving NPS at this event as well:

• Aspyn was selected from nearly 100 candidates from around the country to be a finalist for the NSDA's inaugural Student Leadership Council!!! Please wish her luck as she now enters the final round to be considered to sit on this estimable body and thereby shape the future of Speech and Debate for students across the USA and beyond. She needs to submit a short video by the end of the month, and then we should have an answer in early April. 🤞🤞🤞

• The Gavelin' Eagles collectively received a special honor from the state for forming a new program and adding significant meaning and value to New Mexico Speech and Debate in doing so! 

It goes without saying that I remain super proud of this crew, and I'm profoundly humbled by how much they have achieved in this very first year. Can't wait to see how Nats goes, not to mention what lies ahead in year two!

Major thanks to Ms. Boyles, who judged for us, and to Coach Kaskalla for her endless support, as well as to our admin team and the NPS Board for helping us make all of this possible both logistically and financially. Finally, to Malyssa Egge, who volunteered for the fourth(!) tournament in a row to come all the way down from Bluff, UT, to judge and support the team.

Best,

Mr. Russell

Kaskalla's addendum:

Congratulations to our competitors who have represented our school and communities so amazingly. 

Mr. Russell did not mention his own accolades. He was selected as the New Mexico District Speech and Debate Coach of the Year!  

Congratulations!!! 🎉 🎉🎉