Centre Middle School Debate and Public Speaking Team Sweeps Regional Competition at Jacksonville State University

Centre Middle School’s Debate and Public Speaking Team took First place in every category of the first-ever competition of the North Alabama Regional Debate and Public Speaking League held last Thursday evening at Jacksonville State University.

CMS Team Debate squads took First Place in both the Win Count and Win Percentage categories eclipsing opponents Pell City, Oxford and Jacksonville, and CMS Individual Public Speaking competitors captured First Place and Third Place in their division.

Centre Team Debate students presented their arguments both for and against the resolution “The United States should withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement,” arguing for withdrawing from the treaty in the first round of the evening and then against withdrawing in the second round. 

Students had to show an understanding of climate science, international relations, and constitutional law.

Centre students participating in the event were:  Squad captains Joel Bishop and Abbie Reynolds, along with their teammates Sarah Lloyd, Kaliece Hall and Olivia Mullins-Windsor.

In the Individual Public Speaking division, Centre native Makenzie Green won gold for her speech calling for increased funding for childhood cancer research.  Makenzie is a survivor of childhood cancer, so her speech came from the heart. 

Makenzie is the daughter of Chad and Brandi Green.                            

Teammate Reagan Hunter, also a CMS student, won bronze for his speech opposing gun control.  Reagan is the son of Randy and Jana Hunter.

CMS debate coach Scott Lloyd said that he again wants to thank JSU, plus faculty members Dr. Lori Owens and Dr. Benjie Blair for hosting the event, adding, “This league is going to help a lot of kids.”

Lloyd said that other Cherokee County schools could participate in the debate league, saying “We would love to compete against them.  They just need an adult to step up and sponsor them, and it doesn’t even have to be a faculty member or anyone who did debate in school.”

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