Members of the Brookings High School Bobcat Forensics team presented their program to the Brookings School District board on Oct. 14, describing recent competitive results, program size and community outreach.

Mallory Wells, president of the debate team and a senior, said the program currently counts “100 members in debate and 30 members in Interp,” and that the team hosts four to five tournaments a year in Brookings that bring an average of about 400 students, coaches and parents to town per contest. Wells also described program goals including expanding recruitment among eighth graders and freshmen and sending teams to national tournaments.

Student Nicholas (Nana) (vice president) and Finn Bartlett (secretary, 11th grader) and other team members described competitive accomplishments: frequent state placings and repeated qualifications for the national tournament (the National Speech & Debate Association). Students also said the team supports “unified speech,” an activity in which team members mentor and assist peers in special education to participate in performance events; a student said teammates work directly in classrooms to help peer partners rehearse and present.

Board members praised the team’s work. One board member said the debate team’s emphasis on audience analysis and research “is a skill that has been lost” in broader society and encouraged students to carry debate skills into adult life. Students linked debate practice to future plans: one said she is interested in public policy; others mentioned education or computer science as potential fields.

Why it matters

The presentation highlighted the program’s competitive success, its outreach to younger students, and its role providing mentorship and inclusive activities for students with disabilities. The team’s volunteer‑judge needs for hosted tournaments were noted as an opportunity for community involvement.

Ending

The board thanked the Bobcat Forensics members for the presentation and encouraged continued outreach and community involvement.