Cross Roads ISD Press release
The Cross Roads High School Speech and Debate team continued its streak of success this past Saturday, Oct. 18, with nine students competing at the Mabank Speech and Debate Invitational at Mabank High School.
The team competed in Public Forum Debate, Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Original Oratory. The team advanced to finals in every category entered; finishing 4th in Public Forum Debate, 2nd in Extemporaneous Speaking, and two students named Super Congress Finalists in Congressional Debate. The team took four of the top six spots in Original Oratory; finishing 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 6th. The team competed against 28 high schools and approximately 400 students in the one day competition. Students competing at this tournament included senior Paulette Burgess; Juniors LaTrae Chaney, Katie Harris, Olivia Komandosky, and Hunter McCulloch; Sophomores Alex Dickson and Justin Yachinich; and Freshmen Julia Harris and Taylor Long.
“Communication skills are essential for empowering youth to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals, and honorable leaders in our global society,” Debate Coach Chris Dickson said. “Fostering excellence in young people through academic and athletic extra-curricular competition is a primary goal and objective of Cross Roads ISD, and I believe these students are demonstrating daily their desire to reach their full potential as young adults. I consider myself fortunate and blessed to see these students excited to learn and have fun as they transform values into actions, visions into realities, and risks into rewards through speech and debate activities. The speech and debate students at Cross Roads High School are creating an amazing educational environment in which they are demonstrating to those students around them how they can turn challenging opportunities into remarkable successes. I’m excited to be a part of this educational journey with them.”