Garrett Middle School’s Speech and Debate Team traveled to Phoenix, Arizona for the National Speech and Debate Tournament of Champions. The students competed in two speech events as first-time competitors the national championship.

Over 140 middle schools from around the world competed in events in both speech and debate. Eighth grade students, Michelle Makori and Prisca Uchenna, competed in two speech events during the two day competition. Both students advanced, beating out numerous strong competitors, to rank as the semifinalists in their events, and being outranked by only 6 others for the finale.

As first-time competitors of the national championship and only the second year at Garrett Middle School, MIchelle and Prisca were honored on stage during the award ceremony as semifinalists in Storytelling and Program of Oral Interpretation. The students were accompanied and supported by their coaches, Carlethia Wharton, Kenya Whiteside, and Sheyna Hairston on the trip.

We are extremely proud to have such an esteemed team represent not only Garrett Middle School, and Cobb County School District, but also the state of Georgia. They were one of only two teams in the entire state to compete in the middle school tournament of champions.