West Des Moines, Iowa, June 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) is partnering with the Broward County Public Schools Active Voice Project to hold an event called Powerful Voices. Meaningful Changes. The event will be held Saturday, June 16 at 4 p.m. at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. The event will also be shown online via Livestream. The exciting event will serve as the kickoff event for the 2018 National Speech & Debate Tournament, which is the world’s largest scholastic competition.
The Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) Active Voice Project is a subset of the Broward Debate Initiative, which is a leading speech and debate program in the United States. This event will showcase BCPS debate students, with a special message from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who have inspired people locally, nationally, and around the world with their activism.
There will be over 1,000 in attendance, which will include students, educators, and administrators from the Broward County and surrounding Florida area. In addition, student and educators from across the United States who are in Fort Lauderdale for the 2018 National Speech & Debate Tournament participants. Media is welcome.
The lineup of speakers includes:
Robert Runcie – Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools
Sari Kaufman – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Class of 2020); Captain, Speech and Debate Team; and Organizer, Parkland March for Our Lives
Daniel Tabares – Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (Class of 2021)
Meghan Keough – Western High School (Class of 2020)
Walker Elementary Debate Team
Jayley Halpern-Drock – Graduate of Charles Flanagan High School (Class of 2018)
Neuteyshe Felizor – Graduate of Charles Flanagan High School (Class of 2017)
Marianna Garcia – Graduate of Cypress Bay High School (Class of 2014)
J. Scott Wunn – Executive Director, National Speech & Debate Association
“Many of Broward’s students have emerged as powerful orators on a national stage by participating in speech and debate programs,” said Wunn, NSDA Executive Director. “Broward County Public Schools has set the standard for integrating speech and debate into its academic programming. We are excited to be partnering with Broward Schools on this event to continue providing a platform that showcases students’ voices and to show our ongoing support.”
The Powerful Voices. Meaningful Changes. event will kickoff the 2018 National Speech & Debate Tournament, which will be held June 17-22 at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, as well as at various Broward County Public schools. With more than 7,000 participants, the annual National Tournament held by the National Speech & Debate Association is the capstone event for the speech and debate community and is the world’s largest scholastic competition.
To register to attend or watch the Livesteam visit: www. www.speechanddebate.org/powerful-voices/ The Powerful Voices. Meaningful Changes. event is presented by Students Demand Action.
About the National Speech & Debate Association
The National Speech & Debate Association is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization in the United States, serving middle school, high school, and collegiate students. The NSDA provides competitive speech and debate activities, high-quality resources, comprehensive training, scholarship opportunities, and advanced recognition to more than 150,000 students and coaches every academic year. For more than 90 years, the National Speech & Debate Association has empowered more than 1.5 million members to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals, and honorable leaders in our society. Since 1931, the Association has held an annual national tournament. For more information, visit www.speechanddebate.org. Follow the NSDA on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @speechanddebate.
About Broward County Public Schools
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.” Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth largest school district in the nation and the second largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has over 271,500 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 234 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 93 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 204 different countries and 191 different languages. To learn more, visit browardschools.com. Follow BCPS on Twitter @browardschools and Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools, and download the free BCPS mobile app. at browardschools.com/MobileApp
About Students Demand Action
Students Demand Action is a national initiative, created by and for teens and young adults, to channel the energy and passion of high school and college-aged students into the fight against gun violence. Students Demand Action volunteers work within their schools and communities to educate their peers, register voters and demand common-sense solutions to this national crisis. Together with Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, Students Demand Action volunteers are part of a network of nearly 5 million supporters across the nation committed to gun violence prevention. For more information or to get involved visit www.studentsdemandaction.org
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