[Flower Mound, May 4, 2006] Although the record will likely be broken many times in the future, James Frank, Coram Deo Academy junior, has set a record as the first Coram Deo Academy student to qualify to compete nationally at the National Forensic League Student Congress in a session of the House. Modeled after debate conducted by congressional leaders, students will give speeches about bills or resolutions sent in by the more than 100 districts. Qualifying students will prepare speeches either for or against the legislation to give during the national competition, which will be held locally in Grapevine June 19-23.
“We knew there would be records set this year, as it is our first year,” said Gerri Colvin, Coram Deo Academy debate and speech coach and Shakespearean theatre teacher. “But qualifying for nationals is the epitome of a really successful season. They can’t get better than that. They were awesome.”
Frank qualified at the recent North Texas Longhorns District speech competition, April 28-29, which determined the winners to go on to nationals.Attending for the team were juniors Greg Flores and Hannah Chupp in Original Oratory, and juniors Andrew Ahles, Anna Accomazzo and James Frank in United States Extemporaneous Speaking. Making the semi-final cut was Hannah Chupp in Original Oratory, and Andrew Ahles and Anna Accomazzo in United States Extemporaneous Speaking. Andrew moved on to the finals round of competition in USX.
Coram Deo Academy students attended eight tournaments during their first year of participation in the program, competing in a district where high schools have reputations for high levels of performance in speech and debate, including: Colleyville Heritage, Plano East, Newman Smith, Creekview, Arlington Martin, Coppell and Hockaday.
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