Speech & Debate National Champion for 3rd Year in a Row
American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, has reached new heights at the 2024 National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, as their year-long dedication to excellence culminated in extraordinary achievements. This year, our High School team achieved remarkable success, securing top honors and making a lasting impression on the national stage. The school made history by being the only institution in the nation to win the top awards in high school and middle school categories.
Our school was honored with the prestigious School of Outstanding Distinction award, recognizing us as one of the top 10 schools in the nation for speech and debate. This accolade highlights our commitment to nurturing exceptional communication and critical thinking skills among our students. In addition to the top school award, 14 individual awards were earned by the high school participants, showcasing their talent and hard work.
Noteworthy Achievements: A standout performance was delivered by Esther Oretunji, Class of 2024, who became the ONLY student in National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, history to win the national championship in Original Oratory for three consecutive years!
Team Awards:
2024 School of Outstanding Distinction
Top 10 Schools in the Nation for Speech & Debate
Individual Awards:
Original Oratory
Esther Oyetunji - 2024 Original Oratory NATIONAL CHAMPION (3rd Year in a Row)
Suriya Gadh - Octafinalist
Humorous Interpretation
Jaimee Canalejo - 3rd Place Humorous Interpretation
Izyk Pombar-Quarterfinalist
Expository Speaking
Veer Roy - 4th Place Expository Speaking
Elizabeth Xiao - Octafinalist
World Schools Debate
Jake Zeng - 10th Place
Matthew Rodriguez, Charlotte Wu, Jake Zeng, and Taeyoung Kim - Triple Octafinalists
Duo Interpretation
Anagha Iyer and Medha Balaji - 13th Place
Kennedy Hack-Juman and Sophie Simon - Octafinalists
Informative Speaking
Saanvi Kaul - Octafinalist
Policy Debate
Spencer Swickle and Mason Cheng - Octafinalists
Program Oral Interpretation
Sasha Kay-Lindo - Octafinalist
United States Extemporaneous
Ronak Patel - Octfinalist
The dedication and hard work of our high school students and coaches have set a new benchmark for excellence. Congratulations to all the participants for their outstanding achievements and for making their mark on the national stage.
About the National Speech & Debate Association
The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) connects, supports, and inspires a diverse community committed to empowering students through speech and debate. Established in 1925, the NSDA fosters communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative skills among students, envisioning a world where every school offers programs to develop these essential skills.