Chapel Hill High School is proud to celebrate the continued success of its Speech and Debate team, with students earning recognition at both the state and national levels.
Leading these accomplishments, Madison Gibson and Gabrielle Coner qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Nationals in Original Oratory. Sophomore Madison Gibson qualified outright, while junior Gabrielle Coner earned qualification as an alternate.
Original Oratory challenges students to write, memorize, and deliver a 10-minute persuasive speech, refining their work throughout the season based on judge feedback from local to regional competitions.
Madison Gibson’s speech, “Sense and Dollars,” explores the intersection of psychology and finance, examining the habits behind economic choices. Blending humor and candid reflection, it challenges audiences to rethink their decisions and invest in their financial and mental well-being.
Gabrielle Coner’s “Bound by Beauty,” shifts the focus to how beauty standards shape and constrain women across cultures and generations, ultimately highlighting how women are challenging and redefining these norms on their own terms.
Chapel Hill students also earned top honors at the Georgia Supplemental State Championship, a competition featuring fast-paced, specialized events.
Mikayla Gibson was named State Champion in Storytelling, where she performed a five-minute memorized interpretation of “The Mice in Council” by Aesop, while Taylor Small earned 3rd place in Radio Broadcasting, delivering a polished, original news script with commentary.
Magnet Coordinator and speech and debate coach Kenya Taylor, emphasized the depth of commitment required.
“Speech writing is a rigorous, student-driven process,” she said. “Students develop their ideas, conduct research and refine their work through multiple rounds of revision. Because speeches read differently than they sound, we also focus on delivery, memorization and performance. These speeches represent weeks—often months—of dedication and growth. I am so proud of my students.”
These accomplishments reflect the talent, dedication and continued growth of Chapel Hill’s Speech and Debate program—where student voice, critical thinking and excellence take center stage.