Saltus Students Compete In World Championship
Four Saltus students — Tera Hassen, Callie Lucas, Jordan Williams and Christopher Madeiros — competed at the 2026 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship in Bristol, England, with Jordan Williams earning two second place finishes at the prestigious event.
A spokesperson said, “Saltus Grammar School is proud to celebrate the continued success of its Debate and Public Speaking programme, as four students travelled to Bristol, England last week to compete at the 2026 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship [WIDPSC], hosted on the historic Clifton College campus.
“The prestigious international competition brought together approximately 165 of the world’s top student speakers from 17 countries, offering an exceptional opportunity for participants to refine their communication skills while building lasting global connections. This global competition started in 1988 with the humble aim to provide opportunities to secondary school students to learn from and test themselves against their peers from different countries.
“Almost 40 years later, this event has grown to include students from countries including Malaysia, South Africa, Australia, Lithuania, and many more, truly embracing the concept of international friendship and learning. Representing Bermuda this year were Tera Hassen [SGY1], Callie Lucas [SGY1], Jordan Williams [Grade 10], and Christopher Madeiros [SGY1], all of whom earned their place through a highly competitive national selection process.
“Among the highlights of the WIDPSC competition, Jordan Williams [Grade 10] delivered an exceptional performance, earning 2nd place in Persuasive Speaking and 2nd place as Overall Speaker, an extraordinary accomplishment at one of the world’s most competitive student speaking events. Callie Lucas made it to the finals in After-Dinner Speaking and Tera Hassen qualified for the semi-finals in the Impromptu and Persuasive Speaking categories.
Julie Rousseau, Head of Saltus Grammar School, Grade 10 student Jordan Williams, and Nadia Robinson, Deputy Head of School
“This latest international experience builds on an extraordinary year for Saltus students, following standout performances at the IISPSC in Maine, where Saltus was named Top Overseas School, and continued success at both the National Schools Debate Tournament and the Bermuda Spring Debating & Public Speaking Tournament. Together, these achievements underscore the depth, consistency, and excellence of the Saltus programme on both the local and global stage.
“Students are required to enter four different events for this competition, reflecting the real-world application of skill which is at the heart of this event. Students compete in Interpretative Reading, bringing a text to life; Impromptu Speaking, being able to think and speak cogently and with purpose on the spot; Coordinate Parliamentary Debate which tests both a students knowledge of world events and trends as well as the student’s ability to communicate and collaborate with someone you’ve just met, working towards a shared goal under a tight time pressure and finally either persuasive or after dinner speaking. These are all skills that we recognise are just as, if not even more important now, than when this competition was founded in 1988.”
Head of School Julie Rousseau praised the team’s achievements, saying: “Our students continue to distinguish themselves on the international stage through their confidence, clarity of thought, and commitment to excellence. To see them consistently performing at such a high level against the world’s best speakers is a testament to their dedication, the strength of our programme, and the support of our coaches and community. We are incredibly proud of how they represent Saltus and Bermuda.”
Tera Hassen [SGY1] and Christopher Madeiros [SGY1]; Back row: Callie Lucas [SGY1] and Jordan Williams [Grade 10]
Reflecting on his success, Jordan Williams shared: “It is ironic that during the competition I delivered an impromptu speech on the topic, ‘It’s hard to measure ‘almost’ because ‘almost’ doesn’t matter.’ Given the outcome of this tournament, placing second overall, I was tempted to believe this quote to be true. After reflection, I realized that ‘almost’ also represented the countless hours of effort my team and I put into creating speeches and researching topics. This ‘almost’ allowed me to meet some great people as well. I am grateful to have represented Bermuda and achieved the results I did. It’s a testament to our limitless potential. I am also very grateful for the dedication and expertise of our coach, Mrs. Dakin.”
Callie Lucas added: “Worlds has served as an excellent opportunity to showcase my skills on an international stage and form friendships with incredible people from an array of different cultures and backgrounds. From making it to finals to watching my teammates achieve and flourish, it has been an honour to help represent Bermuda and reinforce the idea that although Bermuda is small, we are mighty!”
Tera Hassen commented: “Overall, Worlds was a fantastic experience again this year. Between making two semi-finals, meeting new friends and watching my teammates excel, I was wholly satisfied with my progress. I truly saw all of our hard work come to fruition.”
Christopher Madeiros shared: “I really enjoyed this competition. Although I didn’t win what I set out to win, this experience has shown me the layers to Public Speaking competition and has freshly motivated me to become the best version of myself, ready for next year. In the interim, I have enjoyed making many new friends, especially from Team China!”
The spokesperson said, “Beyond competition results, the experience provided students with the opportunity to engage with diverse perspectives, form meaningful international friendships, and further develop the critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills that define the Saltus approach to learning.
“Saltus looks forward to welcoming the team home and celebrating their continued achievements as they build on this momentum in future competitions. The team would also like to thank the Bermuda branch of the English Speaking Union who has generously helped to sponsor students to represent Bermuda at this prestigious event.”
