Parker School’s debate team shined at the State Forensic Championship earlier this month at Kamehameha and Punahou Schools on Oahu, where 18 schools competed.
Parker School’s debate team shined at the State Forensic Championship earlier this month at Kamehameha and Punahou Schools on Oahu, where 18 schools competed.
Parker senior Jesse Tarnas brought home first place and the state trophy in the Championship Lincoln-Douglas debate category. Senior Kieran Najita came in second, and junior Tyler McCullough earned third place in this same category. Juniors Emilie Skladzien and Elliott Jacobson were the state champions in the Beginning Public Forum debate category.
Because Lincoln-Douglas is an advanced category, the top Lincoln-Douglas debaters will go on to compete at the National Forensic League National Tournament June 10-16 in Indianapolis. Due to a prior commitment, Najita will be unable to make the trip, so McCullough, also a finalist, will accompany Tarnas and compete in Najita’s place.
“Winning states was the absolute best way to cap this awesome year with my debate team,” said Tarnas. “The team this year was amazing… Debate has had such a great hand in shaping me as an individual. Doc (Carl Sturges, Parker debate coach and headmaster) has helped me become controlled in my communication and confident in my speaking skills, which will serve me well for the rest of my life.”
Twenty-one Parker debate students qualified for the state tournament. Tarnas and Najita are the first-ever national qualifiers — though not the first champions — for the school.
Sturges said, “State championships in two categories is a great finish to our debate season. I can’t wait to participate in the national tournament with our two Lincoln-Douglas debaters.”