Riverside High Speech and Debate Students Win National Recognition
Five students from Riverside High School took home national honors at the 2013 National Speech and Debate Tournament recently held in Birmingham, Alabama.
- Mary Carol Butterfield, a rising senior, made it to the final round of expository speaking and finished fifth in the nation.
- Nida Ansari, a rising senior, was 14th in the nation in United States Extemporaneous Speaking. As a junior semifinalist in a main event, she is South Carolina's first auto-qualifier and has a bid to the 2014 National Tournament.
- Lorenzo Barberis Canonico, a rising senior, was 20th in the nation in Congressional Debate in the Senate.
- Judith Lin, a recent Riverside High graduate, was a quarterfinalist in oratory.
- Stephanie Hong, a rising junior, was a semifinalist in Prose Interpretation.
In addition, the Riverside Speech and Debate Team was recognized as a School of Honor in Speech during the national awards ceremony. Coach Greg Cook was awarded his second diamond and the honor of judging the international extemporaneous speaking final round. The team is also coached by David Dejesa.
The Lincoln Financial Group/National Forensic League National Speech & Debate Tournament is the largest academic competition in the world. Students must place among the top competitors at one of 109 district tournaments to qualify.