18 hours Ago By Bernews3
recently hosted the 15th National Public Speaking and Debate Tournament. A spokesperson said, “Somersfield Academy recently had the honour of hosting the 15th National Public Speaking and Debate Tournament, a prestigious event that brought together talented students from Bermuda and beyond to showcase their skills in debate and public speaking. The tournament also served as Bermuda’s National Public Speaking Championship, providing a platform for local students to excel on the global stage.
“This year’s competition welcomed St. John’s-Ravenscourt School from Winnipeg, Canada, which travelled to Bermuda with two middle school teams, two senior teams, and their dedicated coach, Graeme Barrington and chaperone, Tina Gordon. Their participation helped make this year’s event a truly international celebration of oratory excellence.
” Lauren MacNeil, IB Teacher at Somersfield Academy, said, “Hosting this year’s tournament was an incredible honour and a true testament to the power of student voice. The level of preparation, creativity, and courage displayed by each participant was truly inspiring. It’s events like these that remind us how bright the future is when young people are empowered to express themselves with confidence and compassion.
” The spokesperson said, “The competition would not have been possible without the tireless support of dedicated judges, who volunteered their time over three days—some staying until after 9 PM—to ensure that students had the opportunity to compete at the highest level. “Special recognition goes to the founder Christianna Dakin along with Jennifer Burland Adams and Susan Behrens for organisation of the event; Jacari Brimmer-Landy for his organisation of the Debate tournament on Saturday with the National Debate Society; as well as Lauren MacNeil and the Somersfield Academy team for their outstanding hospitality and collaborative efforts. “During the event, the Top Senior School Public Speaker award was announced, with Tera Hassen [Saltus] receiving the English Speaking Union Award to represent Bermuda in London this May.
Tera will also be one of four students travelling to Kuala Lumpur later this month to compete in the World Individual Debate and Public Speaking Championships [WIDPSC] alongside Helena Thomas, Chris Madeiros, and Vikashni Ragunathan. “A heartfelt thank you goes out to the English-Speaking Union [ESU] for their continued support of this competition and for providing Bermuda’s students with incredible opportunities to shine. The event was also made possible through the generosity of local sponsors, including Bookmart, AF Smith, L’Artisan, Red Laser, and Yo Cherry.
“As Somersfield Academy reflects on a successful tournament, we look forward to seeing Bermuda’s talented students continue to excel on the world stage. Congratulations to all participants for their hard work, dedication, and outstanding achievements.” : ,.
