The National Speech & Debate Tournament marks the capstone of speech and debate activities for more than 140,000 members across the country. The student competitors represent the best and brightest young people across the United States and the globe. The tournament is hosted by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA) June 16–21, 2024 in Des Moines, IA.

Competitors earned bids to qualify to participate in  the National Speech & Debate Tournament through advancing to key elimination rounds at the NSDA Arkansas District Tournament and the national virtual Last Change Qualifier Tournament.

The following Arkansas students have earned bids to the National Speech & Debate Tournament in the 2023-2034 academic year: 

https://www.tabroom.com/index/tourn/book.mhtml?tourn_id=29238

Tiffany Tucker, forensics & debate teacher at Cabot Junior High North, was named Outstanding Speech, Debate, & Theatre Educator by the National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) on Jan. 14. Tucker was one of only 21 speech, debate & theatre educators to receive the award.

Tucker was officially presented the award at the Arkansas Forensics and Debate State Championships, which were hosted by the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) at Central High School in Little Rock on April 12-13.

“I was so surprised to win this award,” Tucker said. “It is such an honor to be recognized by a national organization like the NFHS. I would not have been able to even be in the running for this without the wonderful support my colleagues and students of Cabot and ACTAA.”

A 2008 graduate of Cabot High School and former forensics student of Jane Morgan Balgavy, Tucker returned to her hometown in 2017 to teach/coach forensics & debate.

“Tiffany entered my classroom excited and energetic about forensics and debate and she's never lost that passion,” shared Balgavy. “It makes me so proud to see her thriving as a teacher, who is now a beloved mentor to so many. She's a working mom who dedicates her time and talent in helping others, and is so deserving of recognition. I know there will be many more students and teachers who are supported, taught and loved by Tiffany Tucker!”

“Mrs. Tucker truly embodies what it means to be a teacher in the arts. Not only has her endless knowledge had a huge impact on students in the academic setting, but her passion for speech and debate has given students a voice and purpose,” commented former student Logan Williams (‘23) on learning of Tucker’s national honor.

In September 2023, Tucker was named ACTAA Teacher of the Year and serves as the professional development coordinator for the state’s communication & theatre arts association.

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The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech and debate competition in Arkansas.

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Newly installed ACTAA President Zackery Tucker invites members to join in developing an action plan centered on four themes:

• reflect on our purpose;
• increase our impact;
• expand our voice; and
• increase our ability to adapt.

The purpose of the action plan is to focus association work and inspire conversations on how membership can contribute to achieving ACTAA's vision of a “future where every student In Arkansas has the opportunity to be transformed through participation in communication, debate, and theatre arts." 

Full message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vQTpw6JRVc

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At the Arkansas Forensics and Debate State Championships at Central High School in Little Rock on April 12-13, Bentonville theatre teacher Brandon Box-Higdem vacated his role as president of the state’s communication and theatre arts association after three years.

In addition to serving a traditional two-year term as president of the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA), Box-Higdem accepted the position a year and a half early following the resignation of his predecessor due to medical concerns.

Under Box-Higdem’s leadership, the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) underwent significant positive changes, including a rebranding, the adoption of core values, equity and vision statements, restructuring of the Board of Directors, and the association’s 501(c)3 status, setting a promising trajectory for the future.

“Providing more opportunities for underrepresented voices will be the hallmark of his tenure,” remarked incoming ACTAA President Zackery Tucker. “Brandon’s leadership has been focused on providing more opportunities for members to be engaged in the business of ACTAA and to highlight our state’s talented students.”

Since reorganizing as a speech and drama teachers’ organization in 1936, the presidential gavel passes leaders during the awards ceremony at the state tournament in April. Zackery Tucker, dean of students at Arkansas State University - Beebe, assumed a two-year term as ACTAA President at the ceremony.

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The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech and debate competition in Arkansas.

April 12-13, the Arkansas Communication & Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) hosted 105th Arkansas Forensics and Debate State Championships at Central High School in Little Rock.

The state tournament included competition in twenty-five separate events, where students qualified for state competition through advancing to select elimination rounds in previous sanctioned invitational tournaments host throughout the 2023-2024 season.

The 2024 Arkansas State Champions are:

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The Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA) is a non-profit professional organization serving educators. Its purpose is to promote communication, debate, forensics and theatre as an essential discipline, life skill, and art form. Additionally, ACTAA is the official sanctioning organization authorized by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and National Federation of State High Schools Association (NFHS) to govern interscholastic speech and debate competition in Arkansas.

The J.W. Patterson Tournament of Champions (TOC) is a national high school speech and debate tournament held at the University of Kentucky in Lexington April 20–22, 2024. TOC is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive American high school speech and debate tournaments.

Competitors earn bids to qualify to participate in the TOC through advancing to key elimination rounds at certain nationally competitive tournaments sanctioned by the TOC Advisory Committee.

The following Arkansas students have earned bids to the TOC in the 2023-2034 academic year:

Policy Debate:

• Baker & Mills, Little Rock Central

Congressional Debate:

• Manvitha Narasimhan, Bentonville
• Samyukta Vimalraj, Bentonville
• Matthew Collins, Episcopal Collegiate
• Samuel Myers, Har-Ber
• Kevin Durden, Little Rock Central

Dramatic Interpretation:

• Ameya Nambiar, Bentonville West
• Emma Durham, Cabot
• Ja’i Dantzler, Conway
• Scarlett Nelson, Episcopal Collegiate
• Joie Willoughby, Little Rock Central
• Violet Steward, Little Rock Central

Duo Interpretation:

• Drewyor & Hall, Bentonville West
• James & Durham, Cabot
• Griggs & English, Har-Ber
• Willoughby & Elkins, Little Rock Central

Extemporaneous Speaking:

• Bhuvi Gopisetty, Bentonville
• Coglin Dexter, Don Tyson
• Andrew Taylor, Don Tyson
• Carlos Pacheco, Har-Ber
• Marlee Brown, Rogers Heritage
• Allison Frazier, Russellville

Humorous Interpretation:

• Jasmine Huerta, Bentonville
• Karly Elliott, Cabot
• Logan James, Cabot
• Emily Freeman, Har-Ber

Informative Speaking:

• Jasmine Huerta, Bentonville
• Emanuel Diaz, Bentonville
• Charlotte Cromer, Cabot
• Aliza Hady, Dardanelle
• Blake Mills, Dardanelle
• Annie Zimmerman, Episcopal Collegiate
• Skyler Hart, Har-Ber
• Nora Shitandi, Har-Ber
• Adrianna Cain, Morrilton

Oral Interpretation of Literature:

• Reagan Hall, Bentonville West
• Samuel Wylie, Cabot
• Chloe Spearmon, Conway
• Alexander Gamble, Dardanelle
• Loriann Rettstatt, Har-Ber
• Emily Freeman, Har-Ber
• Joie Willoughby, Little Rock Central
• Amy Okanume, Little Rock Central
• Isabelle Elkins, Little Rock Central
• Kynlee Little, Morrilton
• Addison Edwards, Morrilton
• Shiloh Mcdonald, Morrilton
• Alexandra Lara, Russellville

Original Oratory:

• Blake Mills, Dardanelle
• Aarya Patel, Morrilton

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