Scarsdale High Debate Team Coach Honored

speech and debate coach recently received a national honor and he said he owes all of his success to the hard work of his students.

"The only reason why I'm getting this award is because of the kids," Joe Vaughan, who is in his fourteenth year at SHS, said. "A lot of kids are involved and they do well. It's all attributed to them."

Vaughan received a National Forensic League Second Diamond Award for his "combination of excellence and longevity," according to a release from the NFL.

Currently, the teacher coaches 75 students in grades nine through 12 about three times per week. The young debaters compete in 37 different tournaments a season, he said.

The students bring the commitment and also "really enjoy it and have a lot of fun," he added.

Coaches accumulate points for students' wins through the NFL system.

The teacher said he is proud of his students' success. Members have already qualified for two other national tournaments.

"I could be the best coach in the world, but if the kids didn't like it" and were not successful, he would not be receiving the award.

"The kids compete a lot and I think that's great," he said.

Coach Vaughan will be taking his team to their third national qualifier on Saturday at Pelham High School. If students qualify, they would then compete in a tournament in Indianapolis.