Taking the leap from middle to high school, seven Austin Academy for Excellence graduates joined forces with former and future teachers during a recent competition. Austin theater director Aaron Gallagher and Garland High School speech and debate coach Lory Stewart partnered to give those students an edge at the National Speech and Debate Association Tournament June 17-19 in Dallas.
“This opportunity came about because nationals was in Dallas this year, so it was the perfect chance to take our incoming freshmen in the middle school division,” Stewart said. “It was a huge opportunity to compete at nationals because we usually only have two or three students qualify for this particular tournament.”
Taylor Dodd, Taylor Laredo, Trevor Stewart, Avery Trevino, Benji Varnan, Kennedy Wallace and Kennedy Waterman were the lucky seven who made it to nationals. Although Stewart and Wallace worked with Stewart during her time at Hillside Academy for Excellence, this first-time Austin-GHS partnership proved to be a great success.
Stewart placed fifth in humorous interpretation and was a semifinalist in duo acting, as was Varnan. Dodd, Laredo, Trevino and Waterman all landed in the top 24 in duo acting. Waterman was also a quarterfinalist in dramatic interpretation. Wallace, the group’s Lincoln-Douglas debater, impressed all when she went 3-3 her first time out—a remarkable accomplishment for the 14-year-old. But the coaches were not the only ones celebrating the crew’s accomplishments. Parents were more than proud, and also saw the long-term benefits of the event.
“We believe this opportunity really helped boost our son’s morale and helped to fuel his competitive fire,” said Varnan’s father, Jackson. “[This event] broadened the students’ minds about what they are truly capable of doing. GHS will gain a valuable pool of seasoned kids who are now accustomed to the national stage, which will further help in future successes for both the school and students.”
Future successes are on coach Stewart’s mind, as she hopes to continue her collaboration with the incoming freshman and Austin’s theater director.
“We look forward to even more big things from these students in the future,” she commented. “We also hope that Aaron Gallagher will travel with us to other states for nationals in the future.”
Photo courtesy of Lory Stewart