Jupiter High Debaters Begin Year With A Bang

The Speech and Debate Team at Jupiter High School received notification in late September that they have earned a slot in the prestigious 100 Club of the National Forensic League. This honor is bestowed only to those teams that earn 100 or more degrees in a single year of forensic competition. Only 10% of all teams nationwide are recognized for their consistent excellence in the world of high school speech and debate. According to the letter received by Kristen Taylor, coach of the team, and Cheryl Alligood, Jupiter’s principal, “Such a milestone [membership in the 100 Club] is remarkable because it demonstrates outstanding commitment to teaching students essential life skills – including communication, research, listening, writing, and organization.”

The Jupiter team has already competed at three tournaments so far this year: one in Miami at G. Holmes Braddock High School, one at Wellington High School, and one at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. At these three tournaments, the team earned a total of 25 awards, including fifth in Dramatic Interpretation, first in Student Congress, and 15th Best Speaker in Lincoln-Douglas Debate at Yale. Upcoming tournaments include the Nova Titan Invitational (Davie), the University of Florida Blue Key Tournament, the Glenbrooks in Chicago, and George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. And all of these occur before Winter Break.

For more information please contact Kristen Taylor, Jupiter High School Speech and Debate Coach at 561-744-7900 or
kristen.taylor@palmbeachschools.org .