East speech team honored as one of country’s best

The Lincoln East High School speech team was recognized as one of the top 20 in the nation and multiple students from Lincoln Public Schools finished in the top 10 in their events at the National Speech and Debate Association tournament held last week in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

More than 3,500 students representing 1,300 schools competed in the speech portion of the tournament. The East team finished 15th and earned a Speech School of Excellence Award, one of only 20 schools to receive the honor and the only from Nebraska.

Also in speech, Kameron Heimes from Lincoln Southwest High School finished fourth in Poetry Reading.

In debate, Jennifer Wang from East placed fourth in Big Questions Debate.

Individual results from the East speech team:

• Pierce Yates, 9th place, Poetry Reading
• Ellie Woody, 14th place, Original Oratory
• Katrina Schleich, Quarterfinalist (Top 30), Program Oral Interpretation
• Alec Ferris, Quarterfinalist (Top 30), Informative Speaking
• Zoe Keese, Octafinalist (Top 60), Expository Speaking

 

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