YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – An Ursuline High School student placed third in the nation in her category at the National Speech and Debate Tournament last week in Richmond, Va.
Madeleine Devlin competed in the Storytelling category at the event that drew nearly 500 students from across the United States and some from other nations.
According to the National Speech & Debate Association, Storytelling is an interpretation event in which students perform a five-minute memorized story with the optional use of a chair.
Students choose and perform a children’s story with a message. Madeleine performed “Brontorina” by James Howe. The story is about a dinosaur that wanted to be a ballerina, but she’s too big. With help from her friends and dance teacher, she learns that she’s not too big to chase her dream.
Madeleine is the fourth national finalist in Ursuline history. Adam Dwinnells, Alex Stoneman and Allie Christopher also achieved the honor in prior years.
Other Ursuline speech and debate competitors also qualified for the national contest. They are:
- Evan Brockway in Congressional Debate.
- Madeleine Devlin and Kellan Hetzel in Duo Interpretation.
- Izabella Krekus in Dramatic Interpretation.
- Luke Lantz in U.S. Extemporaneous Speaking.
- Novella Poole in Original Oratory.
Luke and Novella were octafinalists in their respective categories, placing in the top 60 in the nation.
In the National Forensic League, Madeleine, Luke and Evan were awarded the honor of Academic All-American. Madeleine also achieved the highest distinction of Premier, based on points earned throughout her high school speech career.
Pictured at top: Ursuline High School student Madeleine Devlin.