2018 Texas Star Great Debate students shine at Schreiner

The 2018 Texas Star Great Debate successfully concluded at Schreiner University last week. It’s the first year that the Kerrville school hosted the six-day debate event, originally created for rural students in Texas unable to participate in the Texas Great Debate, but now known in NHI circles a nurturing program allowing students to grow and develop public speaking skills in a six-day format.

“I never thought it would go this way,” said Nathalia Quevedo of Radford HS in El Paso, who won first place in the Extemporaneous Speaking category. “At the beginning of the week, I was unsure of myself; I’m not the greatest public speaker. But I feel like NHI really helped me come out of my shell.” She described bonding with her teammates as key to helping her progress toward the courage needed for public speaking, and as she put it, “I really got to see what the whole NHI experience was about.”

Award Winners in the 2018 Texas Star Great Debate individual categories:

Cross Examination
1st Place: Cristina Kiefaber, Incarnate Word HS, San Antonio, and Hannah Smith,
2nd Place: Chant Resilla, Klein Oak HS, Spring, and Savannah Day, Judson HS, Converse
All-State Leader: Annalissa Garcia, Ann Richards School For Young Women Leaders, Austin
All-State Member: Meghan Lim, Health Careers HS, San Antonio

Oratory
1st Place: Julian Salaberry, Energy Institute HS, Houston
2nd Place: Julio Marquez, Falfurrias HS, Falfurrias
All-State: Maria Buendia Rivas, Spring HS, Spring

Extemporaneous Speaking
1st Place: Nathalia Quevedo, Radford HS, El Paso
2nd Place: Raul Ramos, J.W. Nixon HS, Laredo
All-State: Tony Espinoza, Los Fresnos United HS, Los Fresnos

Atheneum Showcase Round
1st Place: Camilla Guel, Health Careers HS, San Antonio
2nd Place: Samantha Ortiz, Palmview HS, Palmview HS
3rd Place: Dinhora Valdez, Judson Early College Academy, Converse

Special Awards
Hall of Fame: Kelly Durham, Veterans Memorial HS, San Antonio
Estrellita: Camilla Guel, Health Careers HS, San Antonio