Texas Border Business
PHARR – Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD (PSJA ISD) recently hosted virtual speech and debate tournaments to continue to provide students with enriching extracurricular opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To launch the advanced academics competitive season, all PSJA ISD high schools and two middle schools Austin Middle School and Yzaguirre Middle school competed virtually in a Speech Tournament held Sept. 19. Students competed in the following events: Humorous, Dramatic, Prose, Poetry, Novice Prose, Novice Poetry, Informative Speaking, Original Oration and Extemporaneous speaking.
“I want to thank our PSJA Advanced Academics team and campus leaders for continuing to work hard to provide these enriching opportunities for our students even if it is virtual at this time,” said Superintendent Dr. Jorge L. Arredondo. “These are part of our efforts to prepare every student to participate, compete, and excel in a global society!”
In addition to this, most recently PSJA Southwest Early College High School hosted the Texas Forensics Association/ National Individual Events Tournament of Champions Virtual Speech and Debate Tournament Oct. 1-3, 2020.
According to PSJA Southwest ECHS Theatre Director Sergio Sauceda, each year the PSJA Southwest ECHS tournament attracts schools from across the state.
This year the tournament was managed virtually, allowing schools to compete synchronously and asynchronously without the burden of travel expenses. Contest events included: Humorous, Dramatic, Duo, Duet Acting, International Extemp, Domestic Extemp, Informative Speaking, Original Oration, Program Oral Interpretation, Prose, Poetry, Cross Examination Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, Public Forum, and Congress.
“This tournament has given PSJA Southwest national exposure in speech and debate,” said Sauceda. “We are completing our fourth year as being a National Individual Tournament of Champions (NIETOC) qualifier.”
In the past, the tournament attracted competitors from across the country, with schools from California, South Dakota, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Florida registered to compete.
 recently hosted virtual speech and debate tournaments to continue to provide students with enriching extracurricular opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.){kind=link}