Spring Public Speaking Tournament Results
BHS hosted the Spring Public Speaking and Debate Tournament from March 9 to March 12, with more than 30 competitors taking part.
A spokesperson said, “BHS hosted the Spring Public Speaking and Debate Tournament from March 9 to March 12, 2023. More than 30 competitors from BHS, Somersfield Academy, Warwick Academy, Saltus and St. John’s Ravenscourt [SJR], Winnipeg, Canada took part in After Dinner, Dramatic, Persuasive, Interpretive Reading, Impromptu and News Podcast speaking categories across two days.
“72 students from the same five schools competed in a worlds-style three round debate competition on the Saturday, run by the Bermuda Debate Society.
Senior Debate first place – Linda Parker, Head of BHS, Olly Cherry, Annie Pursell, Zarah Siddiqi
“This was the first in-person public speaking competition in three years, due to the pandemic.”
The convenor, Jennifer Burland Adams, said, “It was great to see the Innovation Centre at BHS truly come alive over the three days with students from across Bermuda interacting with each other and the four teams from Canada. Special congratulations go out to winning debate teams from Somersfield and BHS and the winning Public Speaking teams from St. John’s Ravenscourt and BHS.
“The Public Speaking National Champion for middle school is Callie Lucas [Saltus] and for Senior School is Varshini Srinivasan [BHS].
Public Speaking overall winner – Vikashni Ragunathan, Varshini Srinivasan, Helena Thomas
“A tournament like this cannot be successful without the support of those in the community who served as judges, student volunteers in each competition room, coaches, and friends and family who support the students. I want to thank all of them for helping to give the competitors this opportunity.”
Results
Public Speaking Middle School
Impromptu:
- 1st – Khaled Hamam, SJR
- 2nd – Callie Lucas, Saltus
- 3rd – Christopher Madeiros, Saltus
Interpretive Reading:
- 1st – Grace McDonald SJR
- 2nd – Noah Maranzana, Saltus
- 3rd - Marli Robinson BHS
Persuasive:
- 1st – Grace McDonald, SR
- 2nd – Jamie Boult, SJR
- 3rd – Khaled Haman, SJR
Overall Individual
- 1st – Khaled Hamam, SJR
- 2nd – Grace McDonald, SJR
- 3rd – Jamie Boult, SJR
- 4th – Callie Lucas, Saltus [National Middle School Champion]
- 5th – Chris Madeiros, Saltus
Overall Team:
- 1st – SJR 2
- 2nd – SJR2
- 3rd – Saltus 1
Public Speaking Senior School
Impromptu
- 1st – Stanley Gwanoya, SJR
- 2nd – Kate Tobac, SJR
- 3rd - Varshini Srinivasan, BHS
Interpretive:
- 1st – Stanley Gwanoya SJR
- 2nd – McKenna Fleishmaker SJR
- 3rd – Piyush Sharma SJR
Persuasive:
- 1st – Stanley Gwanoya SJR
- 2nd – Kate Tobac SJR
- 3rd – Emily Sprague SJR
After Dinner
- 1st – Varshini Srinivasan BHS
- 2nd – Helena Thomas BHS
News Podcast:
- 1st – Vikashni Ragunathan BHS
- 2nd – Helena Thomas BHS
- 3rd – Annie Pursell SOM
Dramatic:
- 1st – Annie Pursell SOM
- 2nd – Gianna Pedro WA
Newscast
- 1st Vikashni Ragunathan
- 2nd Helena Thomas
Overall Individual
- 1st – Stanley Gwanoya SJR
- 2nd – Kate Tobas SJR
- 3rd - Varshini Srinivasan BHS [National Senior School Champion]
- 4th – Eva O’Connor WA
- 5th – Helena Thomas BHS
Overall Team:
- 1st - Helena Thomas, Vikashni Ragunathan, Varshini Srinivasan BHS Photo Supplied
- 2nd – SJR
- 3rd – SJR
Debate Senior School
- 1st – Somersfield, [Annie Pursell, Olly Cherry, Zarah Siddiqi] Photo Supplied / 2nd BHS [Therese Briere, Robin Selley, Scarlett Smale]
Top 5 Individuals in debate:
- 1 – Eva O’Connor – WA
- 2 – Matthew Banner – WA
- 3 – Zarah Siddiqi – SOM
- 4 – Kate Tobac – SJR
- 5 – Olly Cherry – SOM
Debate Middle School
- 1st BHS 2 [Iona van Niekerk, Amirah Trott, Aditi Varwandkar / 2nd BHS 3 [Arabella Newport-Derbyshire, Sarah Haziza, Joy Ella Yammine].
Top 5 Individuals in Debate:
- 1 – Grace McDonald – SJR
- 2 – Aditi Vanwandkar – BHS
- 3 – Iona Van Niekirk – BHS
- 4 – Brianna Jones – BHS
- 5 – Sevda Malek Marzban – SJR
