Senior Emiri White will become the second student in school history to attend the National Speech and Debate tournament this summer.
White will join as a member of the Flint Hills World Schools debate team and attend the tournament in June in Phoenix. Although the tournament is classified as national, there will also be teams from other countries. White said she is excited to meet people from all over the world.
“Being selected for the national tournament makes all of my hard work these past two years really worth it, and it will end my time on the team on a high note,” White said.
The Flint Hills team has been in the elimination rounds for the past four years at the tournament, said coach Mallory Raugewitz-Blick. In 2021, Shai Nettles competed and represented Eudora, Raugewitz-Blick said.
EHS introduced the debate team in 2020, and White joined her junior year after hearing about it from a friend.
“In class, we will take notes on how to do debate and the structure of the debate. We’ll practice events and, honestly, it’s a pretty open environment, especially during forensics season, because everyone does different events,” White said.
Debate has helped White improve her confidence and courage when talking in front of people.
“Two years ago, I could never talk in front of a group, ever. I can do that now. It doesn’t completely terrify me,” White said.
Tournaments occur Fridays or Saturdays, and the team meets daily during the school week. The first semester of being in debate at EHS is focused on policy debate and the second semester has been about forensics debate, which White prefers because everyone is doing different events.
She attended state last year and is headed to state again next Saturday.
“The thrill of winning a round is the best thing ever,” White said.
To prepare for the national event, the team of students will meet in Topeka after Memorial Day to practice in the days leading up to the tournament. The team will learn about the event and participate in practice rounds, Raugewitz-Blick said.
White plans to attend Mount Holyoke College, double majoring in political science and English. The university doesn’t have a debate team, but she plans to participate in Model UN.
“Of course, it’s made me a better speaker,” she said of her time with debate. “But I think it made me a better person and changed my life for the better. I think I’m better at connecting with people and building relationships.”
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