2021 Annual Report

We were going to have to raise our prices substantially to use a different platform, but we were actually able to lower our prices and make the tournament more accessible to students because of the affordability of NSDA Campus... We were so lucky, and NSDA Campus was spectacular the whole weekend for us.

Faced with the possibility that low-cost speech and debate tournaments might be unable to occur, your support created NSDA Campus, an affordable, secure, and easy to use video platform custom made for hosting virtual speech and debate tournaments. NSDA Campus integrates with Tabroom.com and other online tournament management systems to create a positive online tournament experience for students and coaches.

Because of your support, in 2020-21, NSDA Campus facilitated more than 100,00 rooms of competition.

FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

In the midst of uncertain times, you invested in a new generation of student leaders. By supporting innovation, access, and equity, you gifted students the opportunity to engage in speech and debate from anywhere in the world.

Thank you for showing these students your commitment to giving them opportunities to shine. Wow, did they shine!

As you read through, please click on any video icon to enjoy firsthand some of the incredible speech and debate moments of this past year. Thank you for continuing to make speech and debate possible.

With gratitude,

J. Scott Wunn

MISSION

The National Speech & Debate Association connects, supports, and inspires a diverse community committed to empowering students through speech and debate.

VISION

We envision a world in which every school provides speech and debate programs to foster each student’s communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creative skills.

CORE VALUES

Equity • Integrity • Respect • Leadership • Service

The 2021 Online National Tournament was the largest in history. More than 6,500 high school students competed in a weeklong online competition to determine the most prestigious title in high school academics; national champion.

Watch the 2021 Student of the Year video.

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: humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service. Nominees must also demonstrate strong academic credentials and a commitment to the speech and debate community. The 2021 NSDA National Student of the Year award is presented by Richard Bitner in honor of Bob Stockton.

— Theia Chatelle | St. Michael-Albertville High School, MN

2021 NSDA NATIONAL

STUDENT

OF THE YEAR

Through speech and debate, I learned what it means to advocate against and navigate through systems of oppression. I learned what it means to belong.

Speech and debate taught me at a young age how to handle serious issues and how to present them in front of an audience.

Emmy-award winning journalist Tom Llamas is the 2021 Alumni Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. As the son of Cuban refugees who fled political persecution, he has spent his career reporting on politics from both sides of the aisle so Americans can make informed decisions. He has also been an outspoken advocate for speech and debate, from filming videos declaring his support at his anchor desk to volunteering to host our final rounds of debate this year.

— Tom Llamas | Belen Jesuit Prep School, FL - Class of 1997

NBC NEWS ANCHOR, SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT 2021 ALUMNI LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD RECIPIENT

Discurso y debate me enseño cuando era joven como resolver los problemas serios y como presentarlos en frente de una audiencia.

Watch Tom Llamas' Award Acceptance Speech

2021 NATIONAL TOURNAMENT HONORARY NAMINGS

— Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr.

NSDA Board Member, Hall of Fame Coach, and 2004 MacArthur Fellow from James Logan High School, CA

The National Speech & Debate Association adds honorary names to trophies or events to honor an individual who exemplifes our core values and who has made contributions to the NSDA or inspired the speech and debate community in remarkable ways. This year, five incredible individuals were chosen for this honor: Dr. Tommie Lindsey, Jr., Rep. John Lewis, Rep. Barbara Jordan, Sen. Richard Lugar, and Dale Lauder McCall.

"I hope we can continue to use our voice as our drum to fight for social justice until equity becomes the rhythm of the land."

Thanks so much for providing this opportunity for our students during this time of COVID-19. All of our fundraising and dues collections had been shut down for a period of time, so we were unsure if we could compete.

— Leslie | Coach

I thought that with COVID-19, debate tournaments would be nonexistent this year, and I was really discouraged. These tournaments have given me something to look forward to and work toward, which is invaluable in a year so full of discouragements.

— Adeline | Student competitor

The pilot Springboard series provided three free competitions for schools. 189 different schools were able to participate in free speech and debate competition for their students.