Carson High School senior needs judges for speech and debate tournament

Carson High School senior Emily Spence is busy preparing for her next speech and debate tournament. This one, however, is a little different.

Spence, 17, is running next weekend’s speech and debate tournament at Carson High as part of her senior project. And she needs your help.

The 10 round tournament over two days requires 100 volunteer judges and right now she only has 60.

“I selected this as my senior project because I love being in debate and wanted to fully find out what it takes to host our tournament,” Spence said. “The hardest part is getting judges because the tournament cannot function without the judges.”

Spence said no prior experience is required and judges can help with one round or as many as possible. There’s optional judge training from 10 a.m. to noon today in room 242 of the high school.

She said her favorite part, so far, of coordinating the tournament has “been going room-to-room talking to each teacher about our tournament.”

The tournament beings Friday at 3 p.m. There are four rounds each lasting about an hour and a half. Events Friday include Dramatic interpretation, duo interpretation, expository speaking, extemporaneous speaking, and storytelling, said speech and debate coach Patrick Mobley.

Saturday the first round begins at 8:30 a.m., there are six rounds and each is about two hours long. Events held on Saturday are Congressional debate, Public Forum speaking, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Policy. The topics for debate events Saturday include: Public Forum: United Nations peacekeepers should have the power to engage in offensive operations. Lincoln Douglas: Just governments ought to require that employers pay a living wage.

Policy: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.

“We usually suggest a judge pick two rounds and can then stay for longer if they like,” Mobley said.

The tournament consists of 18 schools with about 150 competitors.

Spence, who competes in events such as dramatic interpretation, duo interpretation and Poetry and prose interpretation, says her favorite event is expository speaking.

Judges receive free meals provided by Costco and Grandma Hatties.

To help or for more information, contact Patrick Mobley at pmobley@carson.k12.nv.us or call 283-1736.