A graduating senior at Evanston Township High School has won the first national championship trophy ever for the school in the National Forensic League speech and debate tournament.
Noah Whinston won the congressional debate senate championship at the tournament earlier this month in Indianapolis.
In the 200-student category, Whinston participated in 14 hours of preliminary debate, seven hours of debate with 60 semi-finalists, and then seven hours of debate in a 24-student final session.
“Noah had already had a fantastic year, but this is really special. This is a championship he’ll always remember, and one that Evanston should be really proud of,” said ETHS debate coach Jeff Hannan. ETHS has been participating in the tournament for the past 28 years.
Whinston won $6,000 in college scholarships, from the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service and the Lincoln Financial Group. He will attend Northwestern University this fall and will also be an assistance coach for the ETHS debate team.
“This national championship is a capstone achievement in his long list of accomplishments as a debater, ETHS Superintendent Eric Witherspoon said. “As he heads off to college, I know we will be hearing more about Noah Whinston in the future.”
The forensics tournament drew thousands of students from across the country and as far away as China. To attend, students must place among the top competitors at one of NFL’s 108 district tournaments. Qualifiers compete for more than $200,000 in college scholarships in one of eleven main events.
Top: Noah Whinston, holding his trophy, is flanked by Superintendent Eic Witherspoon and Assistant Superintendent Peter Bavis.
too bad the debate isn’t on video
I wonder why the competition – especially the finals – isn't available on video so we could watch. The National Forensics League should put the debates online – give some competition to the other NFL.
This NFL develops what's inside the skull – the other one provides a good chance to destroy it with concussions.