GDx 2 connects East Coast and Texas students in lively competition

The 2021 GDx 2 tournament is officially in the books, and three teams from Texas finished in the top three — including a newly-formed team representing the town of Mathis. It was also a tournament in which a contingent of students from the East Coast of the U.S. made a strong showing.

The digitally-delivered tournament, hosted by St. Francis University, brought together more than 60 students from six different states. Like last week’s Texas GDx, the leadership education program brought students together to collaborate on teams, though those teams came together as the program commenced. As with last year’s pioneering GDx programs, students used online platforms to connect with one another as well as to showcase their communication skills in competitions.

A number of the students remarked about how the program helped them to develop their skills:

“I learned that I often underestimate my skills,” said Philippine Brossard from Westchester Academy for International Studies in Houston. “As soon as we started the first round, I was really scared, but then my skills kicked in and before I knew, we were done with the round.”

“I also learned the importance of having a partner,” she added. “When I was stressed or confused my partner would help me out. And we were able to share the work together making the debating process easier.”

“Through GDx,” she observed. “I learned that the whole world is connected. And especially with the pandemic, more and more ways are being installed for us to communicate with the world. For one of my rounds, I was debating someone from Philadelphia!”

“As a result of participating in the GDx, the five main qualities I am learning and improving upon are teamwork, leadership, public speaking, research, and confidence,” said Ryan Cataldo, from Haddonfield Memorial High School in Haddonfield, New Jersey. “The debate has pushed me to improve myself in these aspects, in order to be a successful Great Debater!”

“By participating in this program,” added Ana Marin from Foster High School in Houston, “I’ve learned how important presentation is when one does public speaking regarding tone, body language, and much more.”

“As Project Administrator of the East Coast, the GDx 2 program was a unique experience, different from anything we expected,” said Steven Hernandez, who served as one of the tournament’s Athenaeum directors as well as the coach for an East Coast team that brought North Texas students into the fold. “We walked in as the smallest team, focused on helping our kids break out of their shells, and saw them rise as champions in Team Trial and Cross Examination, All States in Extemporaneous Speaking and Cross Examination, and finalists in Athenaeum. We saw them rise as leaders, who made it a point to meet other students, build new friendships, find their voice, and advocate for themselves. We saw them care not for a cup, but for each other, and it propelled the whole program. It is the true magic of NHI and the true power of the Great Debate.”

The Houston team finished with top honors, with the Mathis team coming in second place, and the Tip of Texas region – fresh off a Texas GDx win — bringing in a third-place finish.

Top finishers in the individual categories include:

Cross Examination

• 1st Place: Ryan Cataldo, Haddonfield Memorial HS, Haddonfield, New Jersey and Victoria Bollar, Lenape High School, Medford Township, New Jersey (East Coast)
• 2nd Place: Angelina Encinia, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas and Jocelyn Gonzales, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas (Mathis)
• All-State: Sofia Jauregui-Ibarra, Argo Community High School, Summit, Illinois (East Coast) and Jonathan Mendoza, Yes Prep North Central, Houston, Texas (Houston)

Oratory

• 1st Place: Jair Sanchez, Yes Prep North Central, Houston, Texas (Houston)
• 2nd Place: Ivana Vega, Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas (Tip of Texas)
• All-State: Mariana Rosas (Houston)

Extemporaneous Speaking

• 1st Place: Susana Filizola, Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas (Tip of Texas)
• 2nd Place: Pierce Grove, Veterans Memorial HS, Brownsville, Texas (Tip of Texas)
• All-State: Andrea Mercado, School for The Talented and Gifted (TAG), Dallas, Texas (East Coast)

Team Trial

• 1st Place: Nicole Heselton, Sacred Heart High School, Yonkers, New York and Amaris Alfonseca, Central Bucks High School East, Doylestown, Pennsylvania (East Coast)
• 2nd Place: Jessica Rosas, Yes Prep North Central, Houston, Texas and Antonio De La Vega, Energy Institute HS, Houston, Texas (Houston)
• All-State: Camila Muro, Challenge Early College HS, Houston, Texas and Elizabeth Sierra (Houston)

Athenaeum

1st Place

• Ryan Cataldo, Haddonfield Memorial HS, Haddonfield, New Jersey (East Coast)
• Yadhira Eguia, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas (Mathis)
• Diego Saldana, Veterans Memorial HS, Brownsville, Texas (Tip of Texas)
• Shaun Sebastian (Houston)
• Lupita Venegas (Houston)

2nd Place

• Ashley Cano, Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas (Tip of Texas)
• Izaiah Dominguez, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas (Mathis)
• Joseph Garcia, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas (Mathis)
• Alondra Gomez, Klein Cane HS, Klein, Texas (Houston)
• Andrea Mercado, School for The Talented and Gifted (TAG), Dallas, Texas (East Coast)
• Liam Purcell, Bayard Rustin High School, West Chester, Pennsylvania (East Coast)

And most improved participants for each region included:

• East Coast: Liam Purcell, Bayard Rustin High School, West Chester, Pennsylvania
• Houston: Alondra Gomez, Klein Cane HS, Klein, Texas
• Mathis: Ayden Romero, Mathis HS, Mathis, Texas
• Tip of Texas: Ashley Cano, Saint Joseph Academy, Brownsville, Texas

The 2021 GDx programs are sponsored in part by State Farm.