Newman Smith Debaters Awesome Awards

The Newman Smith debate students have had exceptional performances recently. NSHS Debate is coached by Robert Martin and Chris Agee.

• On Apr. 16, the Newman Smith High School debate team won two individual region titles, and second place in another debate event, earning more points than any other school in the region. The UIL 4-A Region 2 competition, held at the University of North Texas, culminated with the Trojans earning the regional championship. With only 12 students qualifying for each event state-wide, NSHS has three debaters that will be advancing to the UIL State Championship Tournament.
  
  Individual results are as follows:
  Tanya Rajan- First place Persuasive Speaking
  Diana Pop- Second place Informative Speaking, quarterfinals in Lincoln Douglas Debate
  Sarah Grace Withers- First place Lincoln Douglas Debate. Sarah has an undefeated 11-0 record in UIL competition this year.

• The Newman Smith Debate Team has qualified a second student to the National Tournament of the National Forensic League (NFL). NFL Nationals will be held in Dallas this summer, and NSHS Debate will be represented by two Juniors who qualified through the North Texas Longhorn District in two different events. Tanya Rajan placed first in United States Extemporaneous Speaking, and Diana Pop placed first in the Senate in Congressional Debate. This will be Pop's second trip to Nationals after attending last year in Public Forum Debate. Additionally, first-year debaters Paulina Herran and Priya Solanki placed first and second in Novice Congressional Debate, and are preparing for their chance to qualify next year.
  
  Individual Results:
  Diana Pop--Outstanding Senator, National Qualifier, Senate, Congressional Debate
  Tanya Rajan--Second Alternate, Senate, Congressional Debate
  Sam Winstel--Finalist, House, Congressional Debate
  Sarah Withers--Finalist, House, Congressional Debate
  Paulina Herran--Outstanding Representative, Novice House, Congressional Debate
  Priya Solanki--Superior Representative, Novice House, Congressional Debate
  Joe Heath--Finalist, Novice House, Congressional Debate

• On Apr. 2, the Newman Smith Debate team won UIL District 9-4A Debate Championship at Frisco High School. NSHS won six of the nine spots that advance to region leaving only three spots for the rest of the schools in the district.
  
  Individual results are as follows:
  Lincoln Douglas Debate:
  First place- Sarah Grace Withers
  Second place- Diana Pop
  Third place Kathy Chan
  
  Persuasive Speaking:
  First place- Tanya Rajan
  
  Informative Speaking:
  Second place- Diana Pop
  Third place- Sam Winstel
  Fourth place- Sarah Grace Withers