AHC Students Compete at the National Championships in World Schools Debate

In May 2026, two AHC students, Natalie D. (‘29) and Ema S.S. (‘29), were selected to be members of the National Speech & Debate Association's five-person Chesapeake District World Schools Debate team (region covering MD/DC/DE). At the NSDS National Championships from June 14-18 held in Richmond, they debated against 220 of the top-rated teams in the United States and American schools abroad, including teams from Colorado, California, Michigan, and Idaho. The team was coached by AHC English teacher Scott Carneal.

World Schools debates use a format that is a combination of the British Parliamentary and Australian formats and utilizes topics “motions” that will balance prepared motions, as well as impromptu motions where students have no access to the internet, coaches, or external resources beyond an English dictionary and/or an almanac, where they develop their cases in one hour for the next debate.

They debated two prepared motions.

• This House supports the implementation of a federal jobs guarantee.
• This House believes that NIL has done more good than harm for college athletics.

Two of the four Impromptu motions included:

• This House would grant absolute legal immunity to whistleblowers who expose state secrets in the public interest.
• Adult children have a moral responsibility to care for their elderly parents.

The Chesapeake WSD team finished with a 3 win/3 loss record (only one win away from reaching the medal rounds) and ended the tournament as the 70th-ranked team in the country!!

Congratulations also to four AHC students, Colleen M. (‘27), Penny K. (‘28), Kyra F. (‘26), and Skylar D. (‘28), who competed in Speech events at NSDA Nationals.