Debate team members Ori Taylor, ’27 (left) and Jillian McLaughlin, ’25 attended the National Speech and Debate tournament in Chicago.
Lincoln Academy debate team members Jillian McLaughlin and Ori Taylor traveled with Speech & Debate coach Kathleen Halm to the 2025 National Speech and Debate tournament in Chicago May 23-25.
Jillian competed in the Original Oratory category with her original speech, “The Man.“ Ori competed in Oratorical Declamation with the speech “Lessons from my Father’s Final Days,” by Laurel Braitman.
“They both did extremely well, placing in the middle of the field in each of their categories,” said Halm. “There were 2,171 contestants from all over the country at the tournament, and they competed in four rounds Saturday. I’m immensely proud of their accomplishments, and of qualifying as finalists to take part in the national tournament.”
“Nationals is an unbelievably thrilling experience,” said Jillian. “As you compete in your rounds with the nerves and excitement running through you, you feel an overwhelming sense of accomplishment standing on the national stage. While I didn’t come home as a national champion, I couldn’t think of a better way to finish my high school speech and debate career than in the Windy City with my coach and teammate.”
Ms. Halm was a judge in the original oratory competition, and got to see skilled debaters from around the country compete. “I saw such high level speeches and I was deeply impressed, but I only saw maybe one or two that were better-presented than Jilly’s. Each round had seven speakers, and while sometimes I was able to easily see who would be first and seventh, the differences between first, second and sixth were miniscule. Both Jilly and Ori were right up there with the most skilled student speakers in the nation.”
