HILLTALKERS NEWS
The Los Alamos High School Hilltalkers Speech and Debate team and the Los Alamos Middle School Hawktalkers Speech and Debate team would like to invite the Los Alamos community to attend a Showcase performance on Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 pm-4:00 pm at Fuller Lodge. The Showcase will feature award-winning performances by the Hilltalkers and Hawktalkers that were performed at the New Mexico State Speech and Debate Tournament.
The Showcase will be held on Sunday, March 15 from 2:00 until 4:00 pm at Fuller Lodge. The Showcase is a free performance featuring homemade desserts and a silent auction to benefit the Hilltalkers and the Hawktalkers. The event is family-friendly, and both teams welcome and encourage members of the Los Alamos and White Rock communities to come and support them on Sunday, March 15.
Many local businesses have donated to the silent auction that is part of the Showcase on Sunday, March 15. The Hilltalkers and Hawktalkers appreciate the willingness of our local businesses to support Speech and Debate in our community.
The Hilltalkers and the Hawktalkers competed at the state tournament last month where they earned multiple placings. For the sixth year in a row, the Hilltalkers brought home a New Mexico School of Speech and Debate School Excellence Award. The following students were top placers in their events.
Hawktalkers Speech and Debate team state finalists
Brinda Sreenivas—third place, Novice Lincoln Douglas debate
Caemeron Cole—sixth place, Program of Oral Interpretation
Luke Favorite—Outstanding Novice in Big Questions Debate
Of the 22 Hilltalkers who were finalists at the State Competition, 16 of them are proud graduates of the Los Alamos Middle School Hawktalkers Speech and Debate team.
Elizabeth Frost–semi-finalist, Big Questions Debate
Elizabeth Adams–fourth place, Dramatic Interpretation
Yunseo Kim-first place, Dramatic Interpretation
Keturah Sherrill and Rylee Meechum–seventh place, Duo Interpretation
Yeanwoo Park and Ben Tolk–fifth place, Duo Interpretation
Emily Holmes and Neha Sadasivan–second place, Duo Interpretation
Olivia Koo and Izze Thomas–first place, Duo Interpretation
Lauren Poague–second place, Humorous Interpretation
Pippa Fung–third place, Informative Speaking
Olivia Koo–third place, Informative Speaking
Dana Roelofs–fifth place, International Extemporaneous Speaking
Gopal Nadiga–first place, International Extemporaneous Speaking
Olivia Koo and Dana Roelofs–second place, Policy Debate
Dana Roelofs—Noel Trujillo Award for the top speaker in Policy Debate
Yunseo Kim–first place, Program of Oral Interpretation
Dominic Dowdy and Brian Han–second place, Public Forum Debate
Shena Han–third place, United States Extemporaneous Speaking
Shena Han–quarterfinalist, Varsity Lincoln Douglas Debate
Donations made to the Hilltalkers and Hawktalkers are tax-deductible since the LAHS Hilltalkers are a 501c3 organization. Donations made at the Showcase will allow the LAHS Hilltalkers to reduce travel costs for both teams and to fund scholarships for students who may need financial support in order to participate in speech and debate. For more information, please contact Margo Batha, coach of the Los Alamos High School Hilltalkers Speech and Debate team at m.batha@laschools.net