Previous miss information has been corrected. Updated April 26, 8:22 A.M.

Photo courtesy: Shannon Vance

On April 21 and 22, members of the Speech and Debate team participated in the qualifying meet for the National Competition. Out of the 10 students who participated, one qualified as a national competitor.

Senior Alyssa Paradis, who has been a part of Mountain Vista’s Speech and Debate team since her freshman year, qualified for World Schools Debate in Brigham, Alabama this June. In this event, Paradis will work with other debaters from the Colo. region against teams from other states. 

“Qualifying for nationals is a goal that requires years of hard work and dedication to achieve,” Paradis said. “I’m ecstatic that my time and persistence paid off.”

This is Paradis’s first time qualifying in this event, however, she has perviously qualified and competed Congressional Debate her sophomore and junior year. Along with the excitement of competing, Paradis is honored to represent her school.

“It’s an honor to represent the MVHS Speech and Debate team at the national level.  I hope to earn pride and respect for my team and our school,” Paradis said.

Paradis now joins teammate and co-captain junior, Colter Giem as a national qualifier. Giem qualified for Congressional Debate in early March at a separate competition.

“[Speech and Debate is] fun, engaging, supportive, and always makes you think, and I really appreciate that,” Giem said. “Compared to everything else I’ve gotten out of this experience [this year, qualifying is] honestly just the icing on the cake.”

Giem will return to the club as the Team Captain next year, while Paradis attends Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Paradis and Giem will compete at the Speech and Debate National Competition that will place in Birmingham, Alabama from June 18 through the 23.