On Saturday, March 15, the Lourdes Academy Speech and Debate Academic Team made history by hosting its first-ever tournament, the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Flamingo District Qualifier. This event determined which students representing our district will advance to the NSDA National Championship, scheduled for June 15-20, 2025, in Des Moines, Iowa.
The tournament featured a wide range of events that allowed students to showcase their skills in public speaking, performance, and argumentation. Categories ranged from Public Forum Debate, where teams of two debate current issues (for and against a proposition), to Dramatic Interpretation, where students act out a scene from a play or story.
Lourdes students proudly took part in several of these competitive events. Junior Nailah Bouchereau represented the school in the Lincoln-Douglas debate category, while juniors Eva Pozo and Daniela Roig teamed up for the Public Forum debate. In Original Oratory, sophomore Rosario Rebuetla took the stage, delivering powerful, original speeches.
“This tournament was more than just a competition. It was a reflection of how far our program has come,” said Debate Coach Mr. Hart. “Hosting the Flamingo Districts was a huge honor for our team and school, and it was amazing to have the opportunity to showcase our school.”
Over 45 Lourdes students volunteered throughout the day. They helped run concessions, monitored competition rooms, and welcomed students, coaches, and judges from other schools. Their work ensured the tournament ran smoothly while creating a welcoming environment on campus.
“This was my first year in Speech and Debate, and I really love debate. I was excited to volunteer and show people around our campus. I monitored a Lincoln-Douglas debate room, and I was blown away seeing other schools’ teams,” said freshman Bibiana Retana, a first-year member of the team.
Junior Alyssa Hoyos, who also helped run concession stands and organize the event, said, “Seeing our school host such an important tournament made me proud. It shows how much our program has grown and how passionate we are about supporting the speech and debate community.”
The competition marked a major milestone for the Lourdes Academy Academic Speech and Debate Academic Team, which continues to grow and build a strong presence in Florida’s debate circuit. As the team looks ahead to Nationals in June, Lourdes Academy celebrates this achievement and the bright future of speech and debate on campus.
