CORRECTED: 12/15/24
The Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is pleased to announce the 2025 All-State Speech & Debate students from Fall 2024 competition.
These students finished in the top of their field in Arkansas’ 25+ speech and debate events, earned the recognition of “All-State Speech & Debate” for the academic year, and qualified to compete at the Arkansas State Forensics & Debate Championship tournament in May.
Students can earn all-state recognition in more than one event, and are recognized with a numbered diamond to accompany the all-state title for the number of event qualifiers earned to the state tournament. (e.g., a student who qualifies for the state tournament in three events would be recognized for “Three Diamond All-State Speech & Debate.”)
As of December 1, the following top nine students have already qualified for the four or more all-state diamond designations in high school Speech & Debate in the 2024-2025 competition season.
- Six Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Alexander Gamble of Dardanelle High School, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Poetry, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate.
- Five Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Maximus Gamble of Dardanelle High School, qualifying in Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Poetry, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate; Beatrix Drewyor of Bentonville West High School, qualifying in Dramatic Interpretation, Duet Improvised Acting, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, & Storytelling; and Jeremy Jackson, Jr. of Cabot, qualifying in Duet Improvised Acting, Humorous Interpretation, Original Oratory, Poetry, & Song Lyric Interpretation.
- Four Diamond All-State Speech & Debate: Drey Crumpton of Cabot, qualifying in Duet Improvised Acting, Poetry, Program of Oral Interpretation, & Song Lyric Interpretation; Ganesh Nair of Jonesboro, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, & Public Forum Debate; Reagan Hall of Bentonville West, qualifying in Duet Improvised Acting, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, & Prose; Brinkley Hill of Cabot, qualifying in Duet Improvised Acting, Poetry, Prose, & Song Lyric Interpretation; and Hayden Mittlestat of Cabot, qualifying in Congressional Debate, Duet Improvised Acting, Extemporaneous Speaking, & Impromptu Speaking.
2025 All-State Speech & Debate (Fall 2024) List:
Bentonville High School (15)
- Adhvika Ramkumar (Congressional Debate)
- Aditya Ramani (Public Forum Debate)
- Anaya Dike (Public Debate)
- Avery Duersch (Informative Speaking)
- Caroline Sanders (Congressional Debate)
- Dax Ledbetter (Public Forum Debate)
- Emanuel Diaz (Informative Speaking)
- Evelyn Clark (Congressional Debate & Impromptu Speaking)
- Grayson Lyle (Congressional Debate)
- Jonathan Aby (Big Questions Debate)
- Maliya Gurel (Congressional Debate)
- Manvitha Narasimhan (Congressional Debate)
- Micaiah Gurel (Public Debate)
- Nidhi Nair (Congressional Debate)
- Shamane Mallawarachchi (Public Debate)
Bentonville West High School (19):
- Abigail See (Prose)
- Aditi Shashidhara (Big Questions & Congressional Debate)
- Ameya Nambiar (Dramatic Interpretation)
- Ava Sophia Palacios (Extemporaneous Speaking)
- Beatrix Drewyor (Dramatic Interpretation, Duet Improvised Acting, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, & Storytelling)
- Bella Bernard (Congressional Debate)
- Cash Myhan (Public Debate)
- Darby Kelley (Congressional Debate)
- Isabella Bernard (Congressional Debate)
- Jackson Wright (Impromptu Speaking)
- Jacob Madore (Impromptu Speaking)
- Kiera Miller (Dramatic Interpretation)
- Lauren Vernetti (Congressional Debate)
- Macy Skordal (Impromptu Speaking)
- Olivia Patterson (Congressional Debate)
- Presley Gipson (Big Question Debate & Original Oratory)
- Reagan Hall (Duet Improvised Acting, Duo Interpretation, Humorous Interpretation, & Prose)
- Tyler Lafayette (Program of Oral Interpretation)
- Vivian Wang (Public Forum Debate)
Bigelow High School (10):
- Asialyn McGhee (Public Forum Debate)
- Brayden Austin (Public Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- Brooklyn Scroggins (Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking & Public Debate)
- Emma Bradke (Impromptu Speaking & Public Debate)
- Emma Johnson (Public Debate)
- Faith Schmidt (Public Debate)
- Katelynn Gregg (Impromptu Speaking)
- Kenneth Schmidt (Informative Speaking, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate)
- Madeline Lawson (Poetry)
- Madison Nix (Public Debate)
Cabot High School (50):
- Adam Stanisor (Public Forum Debate & Congressional Debate)
- Aidan Kelly (Humorous Interpretation)
- Amelia Hogan (Storytelling)
- Alyssa Chambers (Public Forum Debate)
- Brinkley Hill (Duet Improvised Acting, Poetry, Prose, & Song Lyric Interpretation)
- Bryce Veasman (Original Oratory & Program of Oral Interpretation)
- Cache Tucker (Public Forum Debate)
- Cameron Haley (Impromptu Speaking)
- Charlotte Cromer (Impromptu Speaking)
- Chase Cearns (Poetry & Song Lyric Interpretation)
- Chase Gwynne (Public Forum Debate)
- Cooper Spaulding (Duo Interpretation)
- Christopher Goshen (Prose)
- Drey Crumpton (Duet Improvised Acting, Poetry, Program of Oral Interpretation, & Song Lyric Interpretation)
- El Nathan Manu (Extemporaneous Speaking & Congressional Debate)
- Ellington Betzold (Informative Speaking & Storytelling)
- Emily Min (Original Oratory)
- Emma Durham (Dramatic Interpretation, Poetry, & Prose)
- Hayden Mittlestat (Congressional Debate, Duet Improvised Acting, Extemporaneous Speaking, & Impromptu Speaking)
- Isabella Sampson (Congressional Debate)
- Isaiah Styles (Big Questions Debate)
- Jeremy Jackson, Jr. (Duet Improvised Acting, Humorous Interpretation, Original Oratory, Poetry, & Song Lyric Interpretation)
- Jonathan Carson (Storytelling)
- Josh Hale (Humorous Interpretation & Impromptu Speaking)
- Juliana Bridges (Poetry)
- Kaden Young (Congressional Debate)
- Kaitlyn Carmical (Dramatic Interpretation)
- Kaleigh Gates (Prose)
- Karly Elliot (Duet Improvised Acting & Humorous Interpretation)
- Kayli Griggs (Impromptu Speaking & Program of Oral Interpretation)
- Keegan Culpepper (Public Forum Debate)
- Livia Lear Sadowsky (Humorous Interpretation)
- Logan Graves (Duo Interpretation)
- Madison Rivera (Public Debate)
- Mariska Haddock (Congressional Debate & Prose)
- Mary Rose Youngblood (Original Oratory)
- Mattie Jimmerson (Big Questions Debate)
- Melody Fiandt (Prose)
- Michaela Baker (Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking & Impromptu Speaking)
- Nathan Inman (Storytelling)
- Rachael McCall (Program of Oral Interpretation, Prose, & Song Lyric Interpretation)
- Raygan Grindley (Poetry)
- Samuel Monroe (Poetry & Storytelling)
- Seán Landers (Storytelling)
- Shelbi Cox (Public Forum Debate)
- Shelby Baxter (Prose)
- Spencer Tallon (Duet Improvised Acting, Impromptu Speaking, & Prose)
- Trust Miller (Public Debate)
- Tyson Sutterfield (Public Debate)
- Vincent Rodriguez (Public Forum Debate)
Conway High School (11):
- Addison Choate (Congressional Debate)
- Dylan Mercer (Congressional Debate & Public Debate)
- Elyse Ortega (Program of Oral Interpretation & Storytelling)
- Ian Lee-Kim (Congressional Debate)
- Joshua Mendoza (Big Questions Debate)
- Karl Johnson (Public Debate)
- Landon Harvey (Congressional Debate)
- Milina Michel (Congressional Debate)
- Mustfa Zia (Congressional Debate & Public Debate)
- Naomi Brooks (Program of Oral Interpretation)
- Wren Welky (Congressional Debate)
Dardanelle High School (12):
- Alexander Gamble (Congressional Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Informative Speaking, Poetry, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate)
- Bayleigh Foshee (Public Debate & Poetry)
- Brendan Miller (Public Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- Christian Javalera (Congressional Debate & Public Debate)
- Gracie Lane (Public Debate, Informative Speaking, & Impromptu Speaking)
- Harper Williams (Impromptu Speaking & Public Debate)
- JaHanna Payton (Poetry, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate)
- Jonathan Sykes (Congressional Debate)
- Kabella Duvall (Public Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- Maximus Gamble (Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, Poetry, Public Debate, & Public Forum Debate)
- Shaylin Hunt (Informative Speaking & Public Debate)
- Talasia Woods (Public Forum Debate)
Don Tyson School of Innovation (8):
- Andrew Taylor (Congressional Debate & Extemporaneous Speaking)
- Brian Pittman (Congressional Debate)
- Collin Farley (Congressional Debate)
- Dara Cuenca (Congressional Debate & Impromptu Speaking)
- Daya Pena (Congressional Debate)
- Dayanna Pena Palacios (Program of Oral Interpretation)
- Justin Milligan (Big Question Debate, Impromptu Speaking, & Public Forum Debate)
- Tori Dolan (Congressional Debate & Public Forum Debate)
Episcopal Collegiate School (12):
- Allison Tuite (Congressional Debate)
- Annaleigh Castleberry (Congressional Debate)
- Avery Phillips (Public Debate)
- Cameron Albert (Congressional Debate)
- Charlie Johnson (Congressional Debate)
- Claudia Steijen (Congressional Debate)
- Emily Stacks (Congressional Debate)
- Emily Stone (Congressional Debate)
- Matthew Collins (Congressional Debate)
- Max Murry (Congressional Debate)
- Scarlett Nelson (Congressional Debate)
- Vivian Green (Congressional Debate)
Fayetteville High School (11):
- Asher Jordan (Storytelling)
- Asher Parks (Public Debate)
- Ava Schulte (Congressional Debate)
- Avery Kvello (Congressional Debate & Impromptu Speaking)
- Benjamin Hazelip (Impromptu Speaking)
- Camila Rodriguez (Congressional Debate)
- Claire Brandon (Congressional Debate)
- Emilea Reed (Public Debate)
- Finn Welch (Congressional Debate & Public Debate)
- Jackson Leopold (Public Debate)
- Liliana Pirani (Big Question Debate & Congressional Debate)
Hall-West High School of Innovation (2):
- Ian Ratcliff (Big Questions Debate)
- Joshua Morehart (Big Questions Debate)
Har-Ber High School (15):
- Aaron Oesterle (Congressional Debate)
- Adreana Perez (Congressional Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- April Dudley (Public Debate)
- Caleb Baker (Public Debate)
- Caleb Whittle (Public Debate)
- Candy Aldaco (Public Debate)
- Emily De La Torre (Public Debate)
- Emily Starkey (Congressional Debate)
- George Rodriguez (Big Question Debate)
- Makenna Bedogne (Public Debate)
- Noah Ward (Duet Improvised Acting)
- Robert Lucas (Congressional Debate)
- Samuel Myers (Congressional Debate)
- Skyler Hart (Duet Improvised Acting)
- Winona Watson (Congressional Debate & Program of Oral Interpretation)
Little Rock Central High School (6):
- Ayoka Boaitey (Congressional Debate)
- Blanche Finzer (Congressional Debate)
- Genny Batcheller (Congressional Debate)
- Isabelle Elkins (Congressional Debate)
- Kaneeka Chakraborty (Congressional Debate)
- Kendall Cloar (Congressional Debate)
Mills University Studies High School (2):
- Chance Bradford (Congressional Debate)
- Xavion McClennan (Impromptu Speaking)
Morrilton High School (11):
- Aarya Patel (Informative Speaking & Public Debate)
- Adrianna Cain (Informative Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, & Poetry)
- Andrew Howard (Public Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- Danajah Penn (Impromptu Speaking, Poetry, & Storytelling)
- Emily Zuniga (Impromptu Speaking, Poetry, & Public Debate)
- Gabriela Camarillo (Public Forum Debate)
- Trevor Koontz (Public Forum Debate)
- Kynlee Little (Poetry & Public Debate)
- Logan Viveiros (Impromptu Speaking & Public Debate)
- Savannah Waddle (Impromptu Speaking, Poetry, & Public Debate)
- Wesley Watts (Impromptu Speaking & Public Debate)
Mount St. Mary Academy (4):
- Annabelle Owen (Duet Improvised Acting, Impromptu Speaking, & Prose)
- Cash (Duet Improvised Acting)
- Isabella Nguyen (Duet Improvised Acting, Duo Interpretation, & Poetry)
- Maya Johnson (Duet Improvised Acting, Dramatic Interpretation, & Duo Interpretation)
North Little Rock High School (1):
- Skylar Acebedo (Impromptu Speaking)
Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School (9):
- Alli Clark-Hunt (Congressional Debate)
- Cooper Mills (Congressional Debate)
- Fiona McFarlane (Congressional Debate)
- Ian Roberts (Congressional Debate)
- Lilliann Stockton (Congressional Debate)
- Micahel Hatfield (Congressional Debate)
- Micaiah Gurel (Congressional Debate)
- Rashid Shabazz (Public Debate)
- Vivian Kincaid (Impromptu Speaking)
Rogers Heritage High School (7):
- Audrey Price (Public Debate)
- Bianca Calles (Public Debate)
- Fischer LaPlant (Public Debate)
- Oliver Borjorquez (Public Debate)
- Sarah Pullen (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
- Tate Hernandez (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
- William Hernandez (Lincoln-Douglas Debate)
Russellville High School (14):
- Allison Frazier (Extemporaneous Speaking & Original Oratory)
- Arawen Nehus (Big Question Debate)
- Asher Childers (Impromptu Speaking & Public Debate)
- Chayney Melton (Congressional Debate)
- Ella Clayton (Congressional Debate & Public Debate)
- Lillianna McGraw (Public Forum Debate)
- Maddy Gorman (Public Debate)
- Madeline Clements (Congressional Debate)
- Madison Mckown (Public Debate)
- Mallory Cloud (Congressional Debate)
- Noah Beaver (Congressional Debate & Duet Improvised Acting)
- Seth Moore (Duet Improvised Acting)
- Tessa Freeman (Public Forum Debate)
- Zayd Acevedo (Extemporaneous Speaking)
Sylvan Hills High School (1):
- Mark Smith (Congressional Debate)
The Academies at Jonesboro (8):
- Bruce Perry (Congressional Debate)
- Gage Smith (Congressional Debate)
- Ganesh Nair (Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Impromptu Speaking, & Public Forum Debate)
- Joe Young (Impromptu Speaking)
- Spencer May (Congressional Debate)
- Tallulah Gee (Impromptu Speaking)
- William Hacker (Congressional Debate & Public Forum Debate)
- Wyatt Stokes (Congressional Debate)
.png)
