Speech and Debate heads to Lawson Middle School to encourage students to join next school year


Speech and Debate students visited Lawson Middle School on May 24 to present a variety of speech events and encourage students to join the club upon entering MVHS. Managing captains sophomore Grant Menon and junior Adhi Watave coordinated the visit to the campus with history teacher Meghan Corcoran at LMS. Speech and Debate did not visit middle schools last year, although they have done so in the past.

“Two years ago, [speech and debate students] came to [Kennedy Middle School], and it helped me join speech, so when they suggested it this year, I was in strong support of it,” Menon said.

Seniors Daniel Ki and Yeshar Hadi, Watave, and freshman Amrutha Desai, along with coach Shirley Keller drove to LMS for a half hour assembly for the entire eighth grade class. Hadi and Watave performed a duo interpretation and Desai performed an original oratory, while Ki spoke to the audience about debate.

“Initially nobody seemed to care, and nobody responded, but as I was driving home, you could see they were really excited [about the performance].” said Hadi.

Though Menon did not attend the event, he  strongly supports it and hopes to carry out something similar with KMS

“[Before they came to KMS], I didn’t know much about speech, and thought it was just writing expository pieces, but after seeing the events I was able to see that there were other possibilities as well,” said Menon. “I am part of interpretative and most of my events are all about acting.”

As newly-instated managing captains, Menon and Watave hope to plan similar events in the future to encourage potential members to join Speech and Debate.

“I would absolutely want to do it again next year, because it was really enjoyable and I could pick up a lot,” said Desai “I hope they got something out of it and it peaks and interest so they inquire about it next year.”