Info Session for New MembersWatch the recording of the 2024 Info Session on YouTube. Learn more about our program and how to join by watching the video, or just view the slide deck.
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The Palo Alto High School "Paly" Speech & Debate Program (PASD) is a 175+ student community competing in 15+ forensics events. Membership in our National Championship-winning program is open to all Palo Alto High School students; there are no tryouts and no fees to join.
OUR MISSION
To develop critical thinking, public speaking, and debating skills; to create an inclusive and supportive forensics community; and to promote the values of intellectual inquiry and competitive integrity.
No matter who you are, as long as you are respectful & kind, you’re welcome on our team."
– Jennie Savage, Program Director Emeritus
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400+ Campers, 60+ Counselors attend 2024 Palo Alto Speech & Debate Camp
This past June, PASD students taught a record-breaking number of campers the art of speech and speech, under the steadfast leadership of Holden Lee, Kelly Tanaka, Joseph Sun, and Motoko Iwata. Speech campers spent countless hours learning about Original Oratories, along with Dramatic and Humorous Interpretations, before writing, revising, and memorizing their own pieces to present to a panel of parents. Similarly, Debate campers learned about the intricacies of debate, including how to flow, case, and present, before going right into creating their own case to use in a debate on the final day against other campers in front of a parent panel.
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Palo Alto named NSDA School of Excellence
In Des Moines, Iowa, Palo Alto Speech & Debate earned an NSDA School of Excellence Award for the first time ever, a recognition of collective achievements. Individual highlights included: Isabella Bian & Rohan Bhatia breaking to Quarters in Congress; Samarth Sethi breaking to Triples in Big Questions; Holden Lee reaching top 32 in Lincoln Douglas; Christopher Choi reaching top 32 in Extemporaneous Debate; Kashi Tuteja (pictured right) placing 3rd in Lincoln Douglas; and Karthi Gottipati (pictured left) placing 2nd in Extemporaneous Debate.
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Success at 2024 CHSSA State Championship
Palo Alto Speech & Debate had a successful weekend at the 2024 CHSSA State Championship, sending 12 students. In Bakersfield at Clovis North High School, Holden Lee was a Quarterfinalist and Mihir Menon was a Semifinalist in LD. In PF, Sarabeth Huang and Sophia Kim were Quarterfinalists. And in POI, Marcus Ling was a Finalist, placing 6th!
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Marcus Ling finals at TOC in Program Oral Interp
For the first time in program history, PASD had a student reach finals at the prestigious Tournament of Champions (TOC) hosted by the University of Kentucky! That student was Marcus Ling '25, competing in Program Oral Interpretation, widely considered to be one of the most challenging and complex forensics events. Marcus placed 6th, performing a piece that explored Post-Traumatic Stress Order (PTSD) and its multi-generational effects on families. Marcus (pictured center) brought home a famous TOC trophy horse to celebrate with his coaches, YuYu Yuan (pictured left) and Stephanie Lee (not pictured).
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Kyle Hietala named 2024 Coach of The Year
The California Coast District of the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) recognized Program Director, Kyle Hietala, as the 2024 Coach of The Year. The District Committee highlighted Kyle's accomplishments in growing the Palo Alto Speech & Debate program in his first two years, and emphasized his service leadership to the league, such as hosting the 3-day CFL State Qualifiers tournament in March at Palo Alto High School. Kyle was recognized at the District National Qualifier tournament, hosted at Bellarmine.
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8 Competitors; 4 Events at NSDA Nationals 2023
Braving the triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix, Arizona, 8 competitors representing 4 different events made history at NSDA Nationals 2023 – never before has the program sent as many students in as many events. Senior Benjamin Grimes, who also qualified and competed last year, reached finals in Senate Congressional Debate. Sophomore Kashi Tuteja also advanced to elimination rounds in Big Questions. Program Director & Head Coach, Kyle Hietala, also received recognition for earning his first NSDA Diamond, a lifetime achievement award held by less than 5% of all speech & debate coaches nationwide.
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300+ Campers, 50+ Counselors join the 2023 Palo Alto Speech & Debate Camp
To finish the 2022-2023 season, student Co-Directors Christie Hong '24 and Mihir Menon '24 pulled off the biggest Palo Alto Speech & Debate Camp in its 19-year history – selling out the second week. "My son joined this camp for the first time and was hesitant...almost refused to go," one parent reflected in a review. "However, he was put to ease and quickly made some new friends. He went on to enjoy this camp is interested in going back next year," she added. Holden Lee '25, one of next year's Co-Directors (with Kelly Tanaka '25), lauded the 50+ volunteer counselors for "the immense impact you've had on each and every camper in making speech and debate a positive experience to look forward to in the future."
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CHSSA California State Championship Successes
In Carlsbad, California, Paly Speech & Debate members competed in the California State Championship on April 21-23rd. Senior Ethan Boneh (right) was a Quarterfinalist in Lincoln Douglas Debate. Seniors Daniel Garepis-Holland & Yash Shetty (left) made history as the first-ever PASD team to reach finals in Public Forum Debate, ending up as State Runner-Up on a 3-2 decision. Congratulations, guys!
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Paly Public Forum (PF) Debate is on a TOC Bid Collecting Spree in Fall/Winter 2022
In Salt Lake City, Utah, three Paly PF teams picked up a TOC Gold Bid each at the Alta Invitational. Sarabeth Huang '24 and Sophia Kim '24 were quarterfinalists; Co-Captains Christie Hong '24 and Lucy Li '24 were semifinalists, and Daniel Garepis-Holland '23 and Yash Shetty '23 were co-champions. The squad has now amassed 7 TOC bids (2 Silver, 5 Gold) this season – an unprecedented level of success for Paly PF Debate. The teams are coached by Arjun Maheshwari and Claire Beamer.
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Boneh salutes the audience in Louisville, Kentucky, with a finger heart after receiving his trophy.
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"I say this for our team, for our school, for our coaches, for my friends, for myself, for our community: WE win these."
Ethan Boneh (Palo Alto High School, ‘23) made history in June 2022, by becoming the first National Champion member of the Palo Alto High School Speech & Debate program. Held in Louisville, Kentucky, The National Tournament hosted by the NSDA is among the most competitive in the country, including over 6,000 students representing 1,500 schools. |
Support the Paly Speech & Debate Program
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Contributions are accepted by check made out to "Palo Alto High School," with "Speech & Debate" written on the memo line. Checks may be hand-delivered to Kyle Hietala, Program Director OR mailed to:
Paly Speech & Debate c/o Palo Alto High School 50 Embarcadero Road Palo Alto, CA 94301. |
To learn more about our program, email Kyle Hietala, Program Director at [email protected]