NSDA Nationals

The National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) nationals are coming soon, and three Northwest students have qualified. 

National qualifiers consisted of four rounds before the final round. The top two students in each category per district advance to finals. Students have the opportunity to choose from 32 various categories to compete in, and each Northwest nationalist chose to compete in a different category. 

Andrew Derrick, a Northwest senior, performed in humorous interpretation, which is a category where students choose a play, short story, or other published work and perform a selection of one or more sections of the piece. Students will then perform a ten-minute comedic interpretation of the piece, consisting of major characters and a developed plot.

Derrick stated, “My junior year was when I got pulled in, and I was just mind blown by how fun it was, and I really just was not able to contain my excitement.”

While Derrick brings laughter to the stage, Grace Fisher tackles a more serious societal issue, showcasing the diverse range of talents at Northwest. Northwest senior Grace Fisher competed in original oratory, where students write an original argumentative, persuasive speech and present it. Fisher’s speech focused on gun violence, a topic she feels strongly about. Writing about personal issues enhances the performance, making it more engaging and enjoyable for both the speaker and the audience.

Fisher commented,  “I’ve been doing it for a while now. I really like writing so I enjoy figuring stuff out and putting it together. I think if I didn’t enjoy it, I wouldn’t do as well at it.”

Lily Severson is also a Northwest senior and competed in program oral interpretation. Program oral interpretation is a category where students collect various types of poetry or prose and compose a ten-minute story. Students are allowed a binder to glance at, unlike other events, but they still should practice their piece regularly so they are able to recite it almost completely from memory.

Severson explained, “I like to talk and I like to share issues that I think are important and talk about them…  Everyone in the room is doing the same thing so they’re all very accepting and very supportive which is great.”

The achievements of Andrew Derrick, Grace Fisher, and Lily Severson at the NSDA national qualifiers exemplify the dedication and talent of Northwest’s students. Their commitment to their respective categories, coupled with their passion for addressing important issues, not only reflects their individual strengths but also speaks to the supportive and collaborative environment fostered by the NSDA community. 

As they prepare to compete on the national stage, their success serves as a testament to the hard work and determination required to excel in speech and debate.

Interested in joining NSDA? Contact Ms. Kuiken, mkuiken@waukeeschools.org, or Ms. Ehlers, sehlers@waukeeschools.org, for more info!