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Goal

Our school has had an active Speech & Debate team for the past 3 years. As the program has grown, additional costs are incurred to attend the tournaments. My goal is to have as many students attend the tournaments as possible. The tournaments require them to research complex Civics issues and be prepared to defend their learning through speech and debate. In addition to knowledge gained, they gain confidence in public speaking, represent our community on a state level, and acquire skills that prepares them for college and careers.  

 

Category

CTE Focused -  

 

What will be done with my students

Students will be attending Speech & Debate Tournaments in our part of the state - some requiring travel up to 2 hours. If invited, they also have the opportunity to attend the national and state competitions that require 6-8 hours of travel. There are costs involved such as lodging, food, and transportation costs (fuel).  

 

Benefits to my Students

Students who participate in this program grow in their confidence in challenging situations. They become problem solvers and develop life-long skills in research and Civics related topics. Last year, we attended 11 tournaments and had 8 students qualify for the State Tournament. Due to costs, we were only able to take 5 students. This year we have twice as many students participating in the class so we could potentially have twice as many qualify to attend the State Tournament.  

 

Budget Narrative

This $1,000 request will let Freeport Middle School speech and debate students compete in regional and state tournaments. For many of our students, cost is the only thing keeping them from competing. Funds will be used as follows:

Tournament entry fees: $200. Covers registration for students competing in tournaments this school year.

Transportation and gas: $200. Pays for fuel for travel to tournaments outside Walton County. Many competitions are hours away, and families can’t always drive students themselves.

Lodging: $400. Covers shared hotel rooms for overnight or multi-day tournaments, such as state or qualifier tournament, so students arrive rested and ready to compete.

Meals: $200. Provides meals and snacks on tournament days, which often run 10–12 hours. Students shouldn’t have to compete hungry or skip a tournament because they can’t afford to eat out.

Impact on our project goal: Competition is where students put their classroom learning into practice. At tournaments, they research current issues, build arguments, think on their feet, and speak in front of judges and peers from other schools. These experiences build confidence, critical thinking, and civic engagement that carry into every subject and beyond graduation. This funding removes the financial barrier so participation is based on effort and interest, not ability to pay. It will allow students to compete who otherwise could not. 

 

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