LT debaters add to medal collection

The Lyons Township High School Congressional Debate Team continues to trend well this season. The team placed twelfth out of 28 teams at the Illinois Congressional Debate Association State Championship at Harper College.

Three students won individual awards:

-Senior Meredith Jenkins, of Western Springs, received multiple awards.

• Named to the All-State Team for having the most judge nominations during the season. This award goes to the top ten individuals in the league, with nearly 1000 registered students.
• Received 2nd place honors for the Quality Speakers Award as the student with the second highest score for the entire tournament of 400 select students.
• Won 1st place in one of the four exclusive championship chambers.

-Sophomore Loretta Walker, of LaGrange Park, was named Best Presiding Officer, an honor given to only 14 of the 400 students.

-Sophomore Aidan Joyce, of LaGrange, won his first speaking award by winning a 2nd place speaking award at the invitational level.

The team’s final competition is the IHSA State Debate Tournament March 19-21 at Illinois State University.

Students involved in Congressional Debate follow the procedures of the senators and representatives in Washington D.C. They write legislation, work in committees, and debate their own bills and resolutions. Speeches are judged, points are accumulated, and both individual and team trophies are awarded by point totals and student voting.

The team is coached by Social Studies teacher Tom Swiontek and assisted by fellow teachers Joan Cushing and Maria Ricker.