“November 2019 has been a great one for our Newark Debate Academy students. Our students competed in tournaments at the local, regional and national level with success!

On November 2, 2019, the NDA hosted our first elementary and middle school tournament of the season at East Side High School which hosted more than 180 students from 18 different schools in the Newark Public School district. The top team in the beginner division was the partnership of Eaves and Sewell from Speedway Academies and the top speaker was Anie Velez from Elliott Street School. In the experienced division, the top team was Meeks and Carlo from Luis Munoz Marin School and the top speaker was Ejahna West, also from Luis Munoz Marin.

On November 9, 2019, students from Science Park High School traveled to compete at the 16th Scarsdale Invitational. Senior Temitope Ogundare finished in the top 8 competitors and was awarded 19th Speaker in the varsity Lincoln-Douglas Division.

On November 22, 2019, students traveled to The 40th Villiger Tournament held at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA. Newark students from 4 different schools competed in 5 different speech events. In Declamation, North Star College Preparatory School had students place in the Top 10 competitors. In Dramatic Performance, students from North Star placed in the quarterfinals as well as Senior Michael Torto finishing in 3rd place. In Duo Interp, North Star had two students finish at 6th place and Arts High school had four students in the Semifinals. In Oral Interpretation, North Star’s Kwadjo Otoo finished in second place and Arts High School’s Madison McKinny finished in fifth.

Also on November 22, 2019, students traveled to the Glenbrooks Speech and Debate Tournament held at The Glenbrooks School in Northbrook, IL. Newark students competed in both the Lincoln-Douglas and Policy divisions. In LD, Newark Science’s Simone Braithwaite finished in the top 8 teams of the tournament and received a qualifying bid for the 2020 Tournament of Champions. Simone was also the 14th speaker in the varsity LD division. In Policy, North Star’s team of Iyanna Trotman and Sean Odom finished in the top 16 teams and secured their 5th qualifying bid to the 2020 Tournament of Champions. Iyanna was also the 4th speaker in the varsity Policy division.

Congratulations to our amazing students!”