Nationals History
National Speech & Debate Tournament Results
High School
Middle School
High School World Schools Debate
To view results from an earlier year, please view our Rostrum archive. National Tournament results are published in the Summer (September) edition.
Dramatic Interpretation Champions
Duo Interpretation Champions
Humorous Interpretation Champions
Informative Speaking Champions
International Extemporaneous Speaking Champions
Original Oratory Champions
Program Oral Interpretation Champions
United States Extemporaneous Speaking Champions
Congressional Debate - House Champions
Congressional Debate - Senate Champions
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Champions
Policy Debate Champions
Public Forum Debate Champions
World Schools Debate Champions
Big Questions Debate Champions
Commentary Champions
Expository Champions
Extemporaneous Debate Champions
Impromptu Champions
Original Spoken Word Poetry Champions
Poetry Reading Champions
Pro Con Challenge Champions
Prose Reading Champions
Storytelling Champions
Boys' Extemporaneous Speaking Champions
Girls' Extemporaneous Speaking Champions
Oratorical Declamation Champions
Prose/Poetry Champions
Radio Speaking Champions
Sweepstakes
To view results from an earlier year, please view our Rostrum archive. National Tournament results are published in the Summer (September) edition.
Four-Time Competitors
It is a great honor to attend Nationals once. It is especially difficult to attend more than once! High school students must attend the National Tournament all four years in a main event, supplemental event, Big Questions, or World Schools Debate to be eligible for this award. Students are listed alphabetically by last name.
2023 Four-Time Competitors
Students are listed in alphabetical order as of June 13, 2023.
Mary Abi-Karam • American Heritage Broward High School, FL
Signy Ackermann • Grapevine High School, TX
Mac Adkins • Glacier High School, MT
Duaa Ali • Dreyfoos School of the Arts, FL
Jasmine Anderson • Flathead High School, MT
Olivia Anderson • Brookings High School, SD
Ebenezer Appiah • Alief Elsik High School, TX
Max Arvanetes • Billings West High School, MT
Sebastian Attlan • Hinsdale Central High School, IL
Kate Bailey • Jefferson City High School, MO
Nathan Balderas • Wichita East High School, KS
Myles Bell • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Kylar Bennett • Riverton High School, WY
Anne Blake • Plymouth High School, IN
Gabriel Bo • Jasper High School, TX
Claire Bodnar • Central High School – Springfield, MO
Mitchell Bogan • Cardinal Mooney High School, OH
Esha Bolar • Johnston High School, IA
Ollie Braden • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Alex Brake • Olathe North High School, KS
Lance Brightmire • Booker T. Washington High School, OK
Sydney Carroll • Battle Ground Academy, TN
Dylan Case • Skyview High School, ID
Erin Casey • Central Of Grand Junction High School, CO
Aaron Chen • Grand Rapids City High School, MI
Jonathan Chen • Taipei American School, Taiwan
Alexis Childs • Cabot High School, AR
Evan Christensen • Enderlin High School, ND
Joshua Christiansen • Beaver High School, UT
Caleb Chung • Pine Creek High School, CO
Jeana Compton • Joplin High School, MO
Allison Cooper • Blue Springs South High School, MO
Karen Cui • Jordan High School, TX
William Cummings • Catholic Memorial School, MA
Dylan Daneman • St. Mary’s High School, OR
Gary Daughtry • Bristow High School, OK
Carter Davis • Westmoore High School, OK
Evander Davis • Washburn Rural High School, KS
Krissy Dearing • Lindale High School, TX
Lawrence Dietlein IV • William P. Clements High School, TX
Gavin Doan • Eagle Valley High School, CO
Ethan Dwyer • Westmoore High School, OK
Olivia Eads • The Potomac School, VA
Wesley Earhart • Millard South High School, NE
Talia Ehrenberg • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Elizabeth Elliott • Isidore Newman School, LA
Jaxon Farmer • Howland High School, OH
Evan Garrison • Webb City High School, MO
Payton Gergen • Bear Creek High School, WA
Kianna Gray • Air Academy High School, CO
Logan Green • Hattiesburg High School, MS
Francisco Guardado • Salina South High School, KS
Amy-Ruth Gyang • Trinity Preparatory School, FL
Kate Halabi • Wichita East High School, KS
Wyatt Hall • La Vernia High School, TX
Rubick Hernandez • Alief Elsik High School, TX
John Hinrichs • Washington High School, SD
Morgan Hoang • Westridge School, CA
Jacob Holbrook • Rowan County Sr. High School, KY
Greta Homuth • Moorhead High School, MN
Malcolm Hornsby • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Agrim Joshi • Shakopee High School, MN
Sebastian Juarez • Bishop Amat Memorial High School, CA
Vaisakh Karuvath • Bentonville High School, AR
Owen (Grant) Killoran • Marquette University High School, WI
Lauren Kim • Flintridge Preparatory School, CA
Yunseo Kim • Los Alamos High School, NM
Addie Kimmerle • Liberty North High School, MO
Danica Knowlden • Millennium Charter, CA
Dana Ko • Pine Creek High School, CO
Akaash Kolluri • William P. Clements High School, TX
Ainslee Konkle • Mercer High School, PA
Karissa Kromminga • Washburn Rural High School, KS
Jia Lauber • East Ridge High School, MN
Rachel Laws • Lincoln East High School, NE
Jenna Lee • Dreyfoos School of the Arts, FL
Brianna Lemaster • Westmoore High School, OK
Sophia Leonard • Central High School – Springfield, MO
Kyle Letterer • Plano West Sr. High School, TX
Phoena Lin • Jasper High School, TX
Esther Liu • Wichita East High School, KS
Rebeca Lopez-Anzures • American Heritage Palm Beach, FL
Christopher Lorde • Plano West Sr. High School, TX
Jill Anne Marie Mallari • Green Meadow School, MP
Taylor Massey • Republic High School, MO
Pierce McDade • University High School, IL
Meara McIntyre • Washington High School, SD
Vikram Menon • Millard North High School, NE
Abigail Merhege • Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, NM
Ella Mitchell • Prospect High School, IL
Suhawni Narang • W. B. Ray High School, TX
Ariana Nungaray-Arias • STRIVE Prep – RISE, CO
Grace Ogden • Saint Mary’s Hall High School, TX
Kameron Otero • Cottonwood Classical Preparatory School, NM
McKinley Paltzik • Phoenix Country Day School, AZ
Natalie Pang • Seven Lakes High School, TX
James Patrick • Brecksville Broadview Hts High School, OH
Nancy Pei • Blue Valley High School, KS
Lizzie Place • Blue Valley North High School, KS
Isabelle Plaisance • Isidore Newman School, LA
Aarushi Pore • Olathe North High School, KS
Calyx Prohias • Eagle Rock High School, CA
Raghav Ramki • Plano East Senior High School, TX
Max Rantilla • Bettendorf High School, IA
Anna Raycroft • Munster High School, IN
Rajat Reddy • North Allegheny High School, PA
Charlie Reeves • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Shelbee Reeves • Independence Truman High School, MO
Tristan Rice • Wichita Northwest High School, KS
Joel Robertson • La Vernia High School, TX
Natalie Roots-Nowakowski • The Potomac School, VA
Jude Rost • Oak Grove High School, MS
Will Ryan • George Washington High School, CO
Jack Rykert • Saint Mary’s Hall High School, TX
Dani Schulz • Cheyenne East High School, WY
Archan Sen • Eagan High School, MN
Stuti Shelat • Granite Bay High School, CA
John Taft • La Vernia High School, TX
Samuel Thompson • South Medford High School, OR
Madeline Tsao • Jasper High School, TX
Kate Tucker • Plano Senior High School, TX
Lorena Vegas • Chiawana High School, WA
Micah Wang • Taipei American School, Taiwan
Nate Watts • Carlsbad High School, CA
Karam Weigert • Jackson-Reed High School, DC
Rachel West • Cheyenne East High School, WY
Hadley Whytlaw • Trinity School, TX
Ethan Wilkes • John Paul Stevens High School, TX
Owen Williams • Independence Truman High School, KS
Callan Williamson • Air Academy High School, CO
Ashley Wright • Maize High School, KS
Phyllis Flory Barton Policy Debate Top Speaker
The top Policy Debate speaker award is named in honor of one of debate’s great coaches, Mrs. Phyllis Flory Barton of Cincinnati-Princeton, Ohio. Mrs. Barton coached a national championship team in both of the great national leagues and upon her death, her students and colleagues endowed the Phyllis Flory Barton Top Speaker Award.Previous Top Speakers
Harland B. Mitchell Trophy
The national champion Policy Debate team receives the Harland B. Mitchell Trophy, named after the Association’s legendary debate coach from Oklahoma. During his 39-year career, Mitchell coached 18 state debate champions, three national debate champions, three national debate runners-up, and a national champion in Extemp. In light of his superlative success and service, Mitchell was named as the foremost debate coach in America by the National Debate Association in 1960, the only time the award has ever been given, and recognized as an original member of the Hall of Fame. The National Speech & Debate Association applauds the legacy of its own pioneer, Mr. H. B. Mitchell.Previous Harland B. Mitchell Trophy Recipients
Robert Shrum Award
The top speaker in World Schools Debate is recognized annually at the National Tournament. The namesake of this award is legendary attorney, speechwriter, columnist, political consultant, NSDA alumnus, and outstanding debater at the 1965 Collegiate National Debate Tournament, Mr. Robert Shrum.Previous Robert Shrum Award Recipients
Lincoln-Douglas Debate Top Speaker
The top speaker in Lincoln-Douglas Debate is recognized at the National Tournament, presented in memory of Tina Wang.Previous Top Speakers
Interp Bowls
Custom bowls are awarded to the students who, in the opinion of the final round judges, won the final rounds of Dramatic Interpretation, Duo Interpretation, and Humorous Interpretation at the National Speech & Debate Tournament.Previous Dramatic Interp Bowl Recipients
Previous Duo Interp Bowl Recipients
Previous Humorous Interp Bowl Recipients
Previous Program Oral Interp Bowl Recipients
President’s Bowls
Presented by Past President Donus D. Roberts and his wife Lovila, custom bowls are awarded to the students who, in the opinion of the final round judges, won the final rounds of Original Oratory, United States Extemporaneous Speaking, and International Extemporaneous Speaking at the National Speech & Debate Tournament.Previous Informative Speaking President's Bowl Recipients
Previous International Extemp President's Bowl Recipients
Previous Original Oratory President's Bowl Recipients
Previous United States Extemp President's Bowl Recipients
Congressional Leadership Bowls
Custom bowls are awarded to the top Senator and Representative whose peers voted them most outstanding in the National Final Session.Previous House Leadership Bowl Recipients
Previous Senate Leadership Bowl Recipients
Congressional Presiding Officer Awards
Special gavels are awarded to the top presiding officers in the Senate and the House in the National Final Session.Previous House Top Presiding Officers
Previous Senate Top Presiding Officers
Activating Equity Award
Speech and debate is a multicultural activity, in which many of our participants are committed to using their voices to shed light on social injustice and propose actions for change. The Activating Equity Award was created to honor the work of groups or collectives of individuals who, over the past year or years, have dedicated themselves to the enhancement of the culture of equity in middle and high school speech and debate activities.Previous Activating Equity Award Recipients
Albert S. Odom Commendation
In honor of the Association’s legendary coach, the Albert S. Odom Commendation is presented to the coach of the school receiving the Bruno E. Jacob / Pi Kappa Delta Trophy.Previous Albert S. Odom Commendation Recipients
Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award
Each year, the Association recognizes an alumnus who, throughout their personal and professional career, has demonstrated exemplary commitment to the tenets of the Code of Honor integrity, humility, respect, leadership, and service.Previous Alumni Lifetime Achievement Recipients
Bruno E. Jacob / Pi Kappa Delta Trophy
Named after Bruno E. Jacob, the founder of the National Speech & Debate Association, the NSDA’s top trophy is awarded to the school that has earned the greatest number of cumulative rounds in main events at the National Speech & Debate Tournament. The award is endowed by Pi Kappa Delta, the oldest national collegiate forensic honorary.Previous Bruno E. Jacob / Pi Kappa Delta Trophy Recipients
Bruno E. Jacob Commendation
If more than 50 percent of the points necessary for the procurement of the Bruno E. Jacob Trophy were gained under the direction of one instructor, that coach receives a special award in recognition of their service in effective speech and debate education.Previous Bruno E. Jacob Commendation Recipients
Brother Gregory “René” Sterner Lifetime Service Award
This award honors individuals who have dedicated their life to the activity of forensics through true service to the National Speech & Debate Association. The award is named after one of the Association’s greatest servants, and its inaugural winner, Brother René Sterner, FSC.Previous Sterner Lifetime Service Award Recipients
Communicator of the Year Award
The National Speech & Debate Association celebrates an individual who utilizes their speech and debate education in ways that profoundly impact the lives of others.Previous Communicator of the Year Recipients
District Chair Awards
Each year at the National Tournament, chairs from across the country are recognized for their service and leadership within the National Speech & Debate Association.Previous Chair of the Year Recipients
Previous Best New Chair Recipients
Previous Best Chair Communications Recipients
Previous Gold, Silver, Bronze Award Recipients
- The chair of the district in first place on May 1, based on combined chapter strength, receives 8 units; the next three receive 4 units; and the next nine receive 2 units. All others receive 1 unit.
- For 4 units a chair is given a bronze award; for 6 units a silver award; and for 8 units a gold award. No chair is ever given a lower award than one previously received, but accumulates units toward a gold award. More than one gold award may be earned.
- Awards are presented to chairs in attendance at the National Speech & Debate Tournament during the District Leadership Luncheon and Awards Ceremony.
District Leader Commendations
Recipients are nominated annually by their peers for going above and beyond in the areas of leadership and service, which may include excellence in district communications or publicity, developing district programs and resources, and/or district membership and engagement support. In addition to District Committee members, other coaches, administrators, parents, or volunteers in the district may be considered for this award.Previous District Leader Commendation Recipients
Frank Sferra Director’s Commendation
The Director’s Commendation is awarded annually for outstanding contributions by a coach. The Director’s Commendation is named after Frank Sferra, a longtime coach from Colorado. During his lifetime, Frank was a fierce champion of all speech and debate programs. He had a passion for providing assistance to all with a vision for building the activity.Previous Director's Commendation Recipients
Harold Keller Public Service Leadership Award
Harold C. Keller’s dedication to and development of Congressional Debate was unparalleled. He was a speech and debate coach from Davenport, Iowa, and a member of the NSDA Hall of Fame since 1990. For more than 25 years, Mr. Keller was a driving force in planning and implementing the National Congress, retaining the affectionate title of “Mr. Congress.” This award pays tribute to Mr. Keller’s longtime support and recognizes an individual who has successfully applied lessons learned through Congressional Debate to become an effective leader in public service.Previous Keller Award Recipients
James M. Copeland High School Coach of the Year
The National Speech & Debate Association’s James M. Copeland High School Coach of the Year Award annually honors high school coaches who reflect outstanding leadership and commitment to speech and debate activities.Previous High School Coach of the Year Recipients
High School Assistant Coach of the Year
The National Speech & Debate Association’s Assistant Coach of the Year award recognizes an exemplary high school assistant coach serving at an NSDA member school.Previous High School Assistant Coach of the Year Recipients
High School New Coach of the Year
The National Speech & Debate Association’s New Coach of the Year award recognizes an exemplary high school coach who is in their first year of NSDA membership.Previous High School New Coach of the Year Recipients
Middle School Coach of the Year
The National Speech & Debate Association’s Middle School Coach of the Year Award annually honors middle school coaches who reflect outstanding leadership and commitment to speech and debate activities.Previous Middle School Coach of the Year Recipients
Ralph E. Carey Award for Distinguished Career Service
This highest honor for district chairs is named after the late Ralph E. Carey, former district chair from South Florida. The career award is endowed by a bequest from his estate.Previous Ralph E. Carey Award Recipients
Senator Karl E. Mundt Sweepstakes Trophy
Awarded since the first National Student Congress in 1938, the Karl Mundt Trophy is presented to the school with the largest number of cumulative participation points in Congressional Debate at the National Tournament.Previous Karl Mundt Trophy Recipients
Ted W. Belch Award
Each year, the Ted W. Belch Award, named after the legendary coach and Hall of Fame member, is awarded to the coach of the the national champion Policy Debate team. In addition, a permanent replica trophy is housed in the national office and displays the names of each recipient on its base.Previous Ted W. Belch Award Recipients
Thomas Glenn Pelham Award
The Thomas Glenn Pelham Award has been given annually since 1990 at the National Speech & Debate Tournament in recognition of devotion to the forensic arts, which teach motivation, integrity, and character. For over 13 years, Mr. Thomas Glenn Pelham served as the director of the Barkley Forum at Emory University. He believed in the unique capability of the forensic arts to build character in the young people who participated and that constructive dialogue, conflict resolution, critical thinking, literacy, and communication skills are central to a civilized society. Mr. Pelham worked tirelessly to provide speech and debate opportunities to college and high school students and believed so strongly in recognizing educators who did the same that he established this award in his will. It is endowed by the Barkley Forum for Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue at Emory University. This award is given annually to someone who:- has spent a decade or more as an educator or advocate in the high school speech and debate community
- exhibits motivation, integrity, and character
- emphasizes to speech and debate students the importance of motivation, integrity, and character above competition
Previous Thomas Glenn Pelham Award Recipients
The Unger Cup
This annual award, named in honor of one of America’s finest debaters and coaches, former Georgetown Professor and Director of Forensics James J. Unger, is awarded to the Policy Debate school that has placed the highest cumulatively in the five great national debate tournaments: the National Speech & Debate Tournament; the NCFL Grand Debate Tournament; the University of Kentucky Tournament of Champions (TOC); the NAUDL Urban Debate National Championship Tournament; and the National Debate Coaches Association (NDCA) Debate Tournament. The Unger Cup is endowed and presented in perpetuity at the National Speech & Debate Tournament. An antique silver, three-handled loving cup, created by Tiffany at the turn of the century, will remain at the national office with a professionally designed base honoring all of the recipients.Previous Unger Cup Recipients
Tournament Book Archive
Check out past editions of the official program for the National Speech & Debate Tournament including event information, annual award recipients, attendee rosters, and more!
Past Tournament Hosts
Past Tournament Hosts
More Awards
The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities. Students earn distinction through speech and debate competition, as well as community service, public speaking, and leadership activities. Coaches simultaneously earn the points recorded for their students. Members are eligible to join the Honor Society once they have earned the required number of points. As members earn additional points, they also earn new degrees in our Honor Society, which offer distinction, recognize progress, and provide motivation. Over the past 90 years, we’ve celebrated the achievements of nearly two million alumni.