2019 Annual Report

ANNUAL REPORT

2018-2019

WE ARE

SPEECH & DEBATE 401 Railroad Place, West Des Moines, IA 50265-4730 MISSION The National Speech & Debate Association connects, supports, and inspires a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate.

VISION We envision a world in which every student has access to membership in the National Speech & Debate Association, providing the educational resources, competitive opportunities, and expertise necessary to foster their communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative skills.

CORE VALUES Equity • Integrity • Respect • Leadership • Service

Learn more at www.speechanddebate.org

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Because of you, young people are participating in speech and debate on the weekends across the country. As Sanjit says on page 4, the Academic All American award you provide incentivizes him to spend more time in speech and debate. But as Joanna tells us on page 8, these students are not “just kids who talk on the weekends.� These young people are changing the world using speech and debate skills of critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity.

Thank you making speech and debate a philanthropic priority. As Daniel puts it on page 6, there is no greater gift for these young people. Thank you for connecting communities, inspiring students, and supporting teachers through speech and debate.

With gratitude,

J. Scott Wunn NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

3

— Sanjit Beriwal | North Allegheny High School, PA

The Academic All American award recognizes high school students who have earned the degree of Superior Distinction (750 points); completed at least five semesters of high school; demonstrated outstanding character and leadership; and earned a GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).

2018-2019 ACADEMIC ALL AMERICAN AWARDS

1,373

OTHER RECOGNITION STATS SCHOOL, COACH, AND STUDENT AWARDS GIVEN

TOTAL DEGREES (COACH AND STUDENT)

11,056

95,133

The Academic All American Award provides students with a feeling of accomplishment and a benchmark for an individual to realize the true extent of their skills and commitment through an achievable yet prestigious honor. Not only does it serve as a gratifying reward for hard work but doubles as a goal for students to strive to achieve throughout their time in speech and debate. For me personally, the AAA award has incentivized me to go to more tournaments and work harder to improve my skills.

2019 NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE EDUCATION DAY NAT ION A L

SPEECH

AND

DEBATE

EDUCATION DAY

SCHOOLS CELEBRATING NSDE DAY IN 2019

NSDE DAY TWEET VIEWS

NSDE DAY WEBSITE PAGE VIEWS

867 201,403 8,997

Speech and debate has empowered me in so many ways—it taught me how to build and convey stories, it channeled my passion for justice onto an impactful platform, and it taught me both the academic and casual knowledge needed for effective rhetoric. . . When I talk at town halls and on panels, adults are always astonished that a young person like me can speak with so much conviction and confidence. They would probably be surprised to see a whole group of teenagers all over the country that can do the same.

— Sunny Lu | Ladue Horton Watkins High School, MO

SAVE THE DATE! NSDE DAY IS MARCH 6, 2020

Grapevine High School, TX

NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

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As a student, speech and debate taught me that what made me different, made me special. As a coach, I get to help my students find the joy that comes with being their authentic self. There is no greater gift.

— Daniel Hodges Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, — SD Daniel - Class Hodges of 2005 Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, SD - Class of 2005

Daniel Hodges, one of the NSDA alums featured in the 2018-2019 Pride Month Poster series, is an assistant speech coach at Apple Valley High School, MN and the Senior Manager of Development Operations of Planned Parenthood North Central States.

To view additional inclusion resources, visit our website at: www.speechanddebate.org/inclusion

2018-2019 INCLUSION COMMITMENTS Inspired by recommendations from the NSDA Coaches’ Caucuses and the membership, the NSDA produced best practice documents on safe tournament practices and ways to infuse inclusion into all aspects of speech and debate.

DEBATE CHALLENGED ME TO NOT JUST ACKNOWLEDGE PARTS OF MY GENDER AND SEXUALITY I HAD SUPPRESSED, BUT AFFIRMATIVELY EXPLORE WHAT MY IDENTITY AS A QUEER BLACK WOMAN WAS.

SPEECH AND DEBATE GAVE MY VOICE A PURPOSE.

SPEECH WAS A CONSTANT REMINDER THAT I AM NOT HERE TO SPEAK FOR MYSELF, BUT FOR EVERYONE IN MY COMMUNITY WHO DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME OPPORTUNITY TO BE HEARD.

RICARDO FLORES

BROOKE KIMBROUGH

First person to win a national championship at NFA and/or AFA with a performance in another language

2018 Informative Speaking champion

WE ARE SPEECH & DEBATE www.speechanddebate.org

MARIANNA GARCIA Cypress Bay High School, FL - Class of 2014

Woodbury High School, MN - Class of 2018

2017 NSDA National Student of the Year and 2015 Dramatic Interpretation Runner-up

W E A R E S P E E C H & D E B AT E

AS LATINOS LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY, THERE IS A LIFELONG FEELING OF ‘I DON’ T BELONG HERE.’ SPEECH AND DEBATE GAVE ME THE COURAGE TO GET UP ON STAGE AND SAY, ‘ACTUALLY, WE DO.’

LILY INDIE

Americas High School, TX - Class of 2017

University Preparatory Academy, MI Board Member, Women’s Debate Institute

www.speechanddebate.org

To further support our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, the NSDA also created a series of classroom and tournament resources to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and Pride Month, to add to our successful Black History Month celebration.

WE ARE SPEECH & DEBATE

W E A R E S P E E C H & D E B AT E www.speechanddebate.org

www.speechanddebate.org

NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

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I think speech and debate teaches us a lesson that we aren’t taught other places at such a young age—that despite having so much to learn in life, what we’ve learned so far is valuable and meaningful to the world. We’re not just kids who talk on the weekends.

Speech and debate gives us a place where we’re encouraged to use our voices to do more, to find our heartbeat in the world and chase after it.

— Joanna Bai | Millard West High School, NE 2019 NSDA National Student of the Year

The William Woods Tate, Jr., National Student of the Year award annually recognizes one individual out of more than 140,000 student members who best embodies the organization’s Code of Honor: integrity, humility, respect, leadership, and service. Nominees must also demonstrate strong academic credentials and a commitment to the speech and debate community. The 2019 NSDA National Student of the Year award was presented by Richard Bitner in honor of Sharon Porter.

— Daniel Hodges Sioux Falls Lincoln High School, SD - Class of 2005

2018-2019 OPERATING RESULTS REVENUE

EXPENSES AND RESERVE

$4,707,252

$4,707,252

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

FUNDRAISING

CONFERENCE MEMBER SERVICES

SALES

STRATEGIC RESERVE

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

FUNDRAISING USA DEBATE CONFERENCE

ADVERTISING

24%

MEMBERSHIP FEES

21%

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

14%

SALES

1%

CONFERENCE

SALES

NATIONALS

MEMBERSHIP FEES

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

USA DEBATE

40%

FUNDRAISING

26% 2% 10% 2%

GRANTS/DONATIONS FOR

MEMBER SERVICES ADVERTISING

GRANTS/DONATIONS FOR

NATIONALS

GRANTS/DONATIONS FOR

USA DEBATE

54%

MEMBERSHIP SERVICES

3%

USA DEBATE

23%

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

9%

STRATEGIC RESERVE

7%

SALES

2%

FUNDRAISING

2%

CONFERENCE

*An additional $1.2 million was received during 2018-2019 that has been exclusively restricted for Big Questions 2019-2021 use.

NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

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2019 High School Circle of Champions

2019 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT STATISTICS

COMBINED HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL

The National Speech & Debate Tournament marks the capstone of

2019 TOTAL SCHOOLS

speech and debate activities for more than 140,000 members across the country. To attend, students must qualify at one of the Association’s 111 district tournaments or through one of our eight international

2019 TOTAL JUDGES

1,403 5,777 3,155

qualifying programs. The student competitors represent the best and

SCHOOLS ATTENDING THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

brightest young people across the United States and the globe.

2009

935 SCHOOLS

The National Debate & Speech Tournament has been held across the

2019

1,403 SCHOOLS

country since 1931, and today is the largest academic competition in the

50% GROW TH

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE NATIONAL TOURNAMENT

world. Each year, more than 4,500 high school students compete in a

2009

3,312 STUDENTS

week-long competition to determine the most prestigious title in high

2019

5,777 STUDENTS

school academics: national champion.

2019 TOTAL STUDENTS

75% GROW TH

2019 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT SPONSORS P L AT I N U M L E V E L

S I LV E R L E V E L

Arthur N. Rupe foundation A N R F

Creative Solutions for Societal Issues

R U BY L E V E L

EMERALD LEVEL

A. C. ELEY FUND CARMENDALE FERNANDES FUND THE JEPS FOUNDATION VICTOR JIH ADAM AND ASHLEY JOHNSON

SAPPHIRE LEVEL

RICHARD BITNER

JAMES M. COPELAND

HAROLD C. KELLER FUND MCCARTHEY FAMILY FOUNDATION HARLAND B. MITCHELL FUND LANNY D. AND B. J. NAEGELIN FUND DONUS AND LOVILA ROBERTS

TOM AND VICKI ROLLINS

SANDRA SILVERS FUND RICHARD B. SODIKOW FUND BOB AND SALLI STOCKTON WILLIAM WOODS TATE, JR., FUND JOE AND PAM WYCOFF

NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

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You are the master of your own destiny.

You set your own heights.

— Dr. Thomas F. Freeman Recipient of the 2019 NSDA Lifetime Achievement Award

The spoken word, the ability to put a sentence together, the ability to make an argument, is the very foundation of everything you are about to do in life. If you want to be a teacher, you have to be able to communicate. If you want to be a sportscaster, you have to communicate. If you want to sell insurance, if you want to sell cars, if you want to sell anything, especially yourself when you’re applying for a job, it begins with the ability to use your brain, balance it with the compassion of your heart, and then the power of your words.

Dr. Thomas F. Freeman is the Head Coach Emeritus of the Texas Southern University Debate Team. He was the teacher of Martin Luther King Jr., advisor to actor Denzel Washington, and coach of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan.

— Dale Hansen | WFAA-TV, Texas 2019 NSDA Communicator of the Year

2018–2019 INDIVIDUAL DONORS QUARTERFINALIST ($1,000 – $2,499)

Anonymous (2) David and Katherine Abel Hunter and Michael Arton Robert J. Feldhake In Memory of Carmendale Fernandes

FINALIST ($5,000 AND UP) Richard Bitner James M. Copeland Adam and Ashley Johnson The Lanier Law Firm, P.C. McCarthey Family Foundation Tom and Vicki Rollins Joe and Pam Wycoff SEMIFINALIST

($2,500 – $4,999)

Anonymous Samir Banerjee Dale DeLetis In Honor of Debbie Simon

David C. Frederick In Memory of B.J. and Lanny Naegelin

Jill Sitnick In Memory of Carl Grecco

Jacek and Dorota Stachowiak

JEPS Foundation Victor Jih David Lopez In Memory of B.J. and Lanny Naegelin

Kerry Maguire and Tom Stossel Christopher Regan Donus and Lovila Roberts Monica Silverstein Bob and Salli Stockton J. Scott and Megan Wunn

AUGUST 1, 2018 – JULY 31, 2019

J. E. Masters In Memory of Carmendale Fernandes

Jeffrey Miller Vicki Pape Dr. Randy Patterson In Memory of Modest Clark Jeffrey

Poetic License, Inc. Robert Runcie Michael Shapiro Mr. Joshua D. Swartsel In Honor of Nicole Berckes and In Memory of Harold Keller

Marc A. Wallenstein David Wendt David Zarefsky Ziziki's Restaurant DOUBLE OCTAFINALIST

In Memory of Richard B. Sodikow

Mark Ferguson Jill Irvine and Ron Halterman In Memory of Dr. Alfred “Tuna” Snider

Jennifer Burton The Butler Family Dario Camara Bret Culpepper Thomas Evnen Robert Ickes In Honor of Don Crabtree and Pam McComas

In Memory of Harry and LeVoyne Littlefield

Stacy G. London Gideon Mark Louie Mattachione Ray and Pam McComas Chase and Lauren McCool Jackie and Michael Oakes Jeff and Sophie Oberstein In Memory of Tim Atwood

In Memory of Bill Henderson

($250 – $499)

OCTAFINALIST ($500 – $999) Kristen Anderson Ted W. Belch Kirby Chin

Beth and Pat Ingram Adam J. Jacobi and J. Scott Baker, Ph.D. Sarah Knobloch Dr. Robert S. Littlefield

Melvin Douglas Olson Cpt. Joseph L. and Jan Pizzo Warren Poschman Mike Reszler Amy and Ray Seidelman Deborah Simon In Memory of Donovan Cummings and In Honor of Dale DeLetis

Susan Sprung and Christopher Keyser Lisa and Darrell Vossekuil Mark Zhou and Hong Jiang

COMPETITOR ($100 – $249) Anonymous In Honor of James M. Copeland

Anonymous Shawn and Lynn Aiken In Honor of Dwayne Purrington and Michael Tilleman

Marisa and Kyle Anderson Susan Anderson Byron Arthur Dr. Kenny and Nancy Barfield Bob Bilyeu Gay Brasher Gregg T. Campbell Virginia Tyler Campbell Charlton Campbell-Hughes Susan Catan Alden B. Chace Jr. In Memory of Carmendale Fernandes

Helen S. Corry Scott Cox In Memory of Carl Grecco

Winifred J. and Henry J. B. Dick In Honor of Helene Dick

Mr. Charles Downs Charlton G. C. Friedberg Trust Mary Gormley

NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT | 2018-2019

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2018–2019 INDIVIDUAL DONORS Betsy Hanmer Steve and Lynn Hanon Aaron Hardy Jan Heiteen David Hingstman F. Patrick Hughes David and Judy Huston Jennifer Jerome Robert and Sandy Krueger Vicki Larsen Clare Lascelles Dawna Levang David Lillehaug Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr. Sherry Lingenfelter Robert "Bob" Marks Phil McIntosh In Honor of Don Crabtree

Art McMillion Steve Meadows The Mersol Family Renee Motter Grant Nelson Chris Palmer Dr. J. W. Patterson

Lois Pierson James Poterba In Memory of Edwin Kelly

Fred Robertson In Memory of William Woods Tate, Jr.

Steven and Anna Schappaugh Timothy and Christine Sheaff Jamey Siefert In Memory of B.J. and Lanny Naegelin

W. Stephen Smith Michael E. Starks Cathy Stevermer Winnie and Jack Tuckness Daniel Tyree Maureen Joy Voll In Memory of Carl Grecco

Nicole and Darrel Wanzer-Serrano Lisa Weber Natalie Weber Betty Whitlock Jonathan Wolshuck Lonny and Linda Wunn In Honor of Megan and J. Scott Wunn

In Memory of Phyllis Barton

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NATIONAL SPEECH & DEBATE ASSOCIATION ANNUAL REPORT |

(CONTINUED)

DONOR ($0 – $99) Anonymous (7) Marcela Velarde Aceves Lily Aggarwal Iskender Agi Mridul Agrawal Muneeb Ahmed Mahesh Balaji Venkatesh Balasubramanian Roger and Doris Brannan Arthur and Emily Bratton Lauren Burdt Elena Byun Ishan Chatterjee Kevin Chen James Chien Stephen and Ruth-Ann Clurman In Honor of Don Crabtree

Walker Desing Erik Dominguez Kathy and Dan Dumke In Memory of William Woods Tate, Jr.

Liberty Dunn Laura Egendorf Toni Espey Jacqueline Evrard-Vescio 2018-2019

Anthony Figliola Dave Gampell Charles and Gerolyn Garrison Stella Gelsomino In Honor of Guido Dominguez

Kirsten and Joe Greene Jay Gullapalli Vishwanath Gunge Jane Hagedorn Wesley Hampson Timo Henttonen Katie Hines Jessica Hughes Robert and Gail Ihrig Surya Inti Aditya Ashok Jadhav Chris Johnson Marian Joss William and Valerie Koeber Jennifer and Lee Konfrst Karen and Garry Kravit Susan Kriegel Emily Kriegel Ronald Krikac In Honor of Joe and Pam Wycoff

Michael Kwong

Ken and Michelle Law In Memory of Carmendale Fernandes

Beth Lentz In Memory of Douglas Tschetter

Karen Leonard Gene Leung Ming Lin Scott and Beth Maltzie Veena Malwankar Rev. and Mrs. David C. Marx In Memory of Marian Milstead

Christine Matheney Regi Mathew Virginia Mayes In Honor of Joe Wycoff

Randall McCutcheon In Memory of Amy McCutcheon

Edward McGuire James E. Menchinger In Memory of Margaret Miller

Mohit Mittal Vishali Mogallapu Susan Napier and Alex Berger Ryan Nelson Kent Ng Patrice Ott Deano Pape

Aditi Parmar Avani Patel Edwin Pham Todd Pixton Sister Mary Patricia Plumb, S.N.J.M. In Memory of Sister Phillip Mary, S.N.J.M

Navid Poulad Praveen Chikkamma Prabhakar Zain Qazi Andy Ray Craig Rehak Annie Reisener Jim and Colleen Reisener In Honor of Matt and Annie Reisener

Grace Rogers James W. Rye III Wayne Sakakuchi Liora and Ehud Schmidt Christy Schneider Paul Sevigny Jitesh Shah Micki W. Smith Steve Stein Laura Stein Matthew Stensrud Doug Stiles

Michael Stroud Gayathri Sundaresan John Teichman Stephanie and Scott VanderBruggen Amar Vattakandy Jayadev Velagandula Sahar Vilan James Wagstaffe Joe Weigand In Honor of Kathie Abel

Brett Campbell Alcarese Welch Ted Williams Rachel Wimpee In Honor of Paulina Wanzer-Serrano

Michael Lauren Yost Grace Yu Haiying Yu Carol and Dave Zanto In Memory of Bro. Rene Sterner

Claire and Steve Zawistowski Nicole Zeoli Andrew Zydney

WE ARE

SPEECH & DEBATE

www.speechanddebate.org @speechanddebate facebook.com/speechanddebate @speechanddebate www.linkedin.com/company/ national-speech-and-debate-association