Hawken Speech and Debate Team Wins School of Outstanding Distinction Award at the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament

More than 6,600 students from 1,500 schools across the country competed June 15-21 at the National Speech and Debate Association national tournament in Des Moines, Iowa. By week's end, the Hawken Speech and Debate Team earned the Association's highest honor and was named a School of Outstanding Distinction, awarded to the top ten schools in the country for overall speech and debate excellence. Hawken was the only school in Ohio to receive this honor.
 
Carlo Polisena, coached by Susan McGraw and Lynn Beeson, competed on stage in the final round before an audience of thousands. He placed fourth in Original Oratory.
 
Samuel Berlin, coached by David Childree, competed in the final session of Congressional Debate - House - where he finished in fifth place.
 
Breck DuPaul, coached by David Childree, competed in the final session of Congressional Debate - Senate - where he finished in tenth place. He has auto-qualified for the 2025 national tournament.
 
Brooke Gemechu, coached by Eva Lamberson, placed thirteenth in Lincoln Douglas Debate. She has auto-qualified for the 2025 national tournament.
 
Chloe Leng, coached by David Childree, was an octafinalist in three events: International Extemp, Impromptu, and Extemp Commentary.
 
Hawken’s Speech and Debate Team has had a fantastic year. Hawken was the Team State Champion at the Ohio Speech and Debate Association state tournament in March. Also at the state tournament, Delicia Liao and Jack Kampine were champions in policy debate and Carlo Polisena was state runner-up in Original Oratory. 
 
At the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Speech and Debate Tournament in Chicago in May, Hawken received one of the top six school sweepstakes awards, the “Daniel S. Masterson, Jr. Awards of Excellence in Forensics" awarded to the top six schools based on sweepstakes points for their top entry in debate, top entry in public speaking, and top entry in interpretation. Brooke Gemechu was the national runner-up in Lincoln Douglas Debate at that tournament. 
 
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An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

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