Feb. 15, 2023 By Elijah Hamilton
Students from the Christ the King High School’s (CTK) speech and debate team in Middle Village have been invited to participate in the 49th Harvard National High School Invitational Forensics Tournament scheduled for President’s Day weekend.
The annual tournament, which takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, brings students together from all over the country.
“I’m really excited for this upcoming tournament, considering it’s much larger than a lot of the regional events we compete in,” said senior Adonis Cusu, a member of the debate team. “This one is more about meeting people from all around the country, getting to meet for multiple days, which is both nerve-wracking and exciting at the same time.”
The CTK speech and debate team meets three days a week after school and has not only played a crucial role in developing the members’ skills but has also helped with their confidence.
“Our primary focus is to help students be more confident in their speaking and have some fun as well,” said Daniel Baran, the debate team’s moderator.
The team is also fundraising to help alleviate the cost to the students attending the trip.
“We tried to make sure to get to as many tournaments as possible. Going to Harvard is a big deal for a lot of students,” Baran said. “Especially for seniors with the prospective of going to Harvard for their schooling.”
Residents wanting to ensure these CTK students get a chance to compete in the 49th Harvard High School Tournament can donate to a GoFundMe campaign set up by the school.