2015-BHS-Speech-&-Debate
Riding the triumph of its first state championship in a few seasons, the Bozeman Hawkers Speech and Debate squad also took top team honors in the regional qualifier and now will send a dozen students to compete at the national tournament held in Salt Lake City this summer. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team and the individuals who will be representing Montana at the premier high school forensics event in the country,” Hawker head coach Adam Thane said. “But in order to get the kids to Salt Lake, we really need the support of the community.”
To raise necessary funds, the Bozeman Hawkers invite the public to a fun evening called “Meet the Hawkers,” showcasing the talents of Bozeman’s top competitors. The event will be held Friday, April 22nd at 7pm in the Emerson Cultural Center’s Ballroom. Admission is free of charge. “It s a rare opportunity for community members to see our speech and debaters in action and judging by the response from years past, people seem to really enjoy it,” Thane said. The Bozeman Hawkers are known throughout the region and the team’s success over the years has made it one of the most heralded extracurricular programs at the high school. Its alums have gone on to become a U.S. Ambassador to Russia, U.S. legislators, scholars, heads of major businesses, teachers, doctors, writers, and more.
The Hawkers who competed in the 2015-2016 season are extraordinarily diverse. From soccer goalies to physics prodigies to ballerinas, they are united by a love for going head-to-head in the non-physical sport of forensics. The dozen members headed to the national tournament are: Lincoln-Douglas Debate: Katie Ellig and Emma Bowen; Policy Debate: Kayleigh Abbott and Ava Snow and partners Rachel Schmidt and Devin Mahoney; Public Forum Debate: partners Marty Smith and Pushya Krishna and partners Ali Garnsey and Ethan Hanley; Dramatic Interpretation: Justice Geddes; and Program Oral Interpretation: Isabel Bowen.
The showcase promises to be a special evening, featuring performances from these qualifiers as well as other talented Hawkers. Along with entertainment from the team, the night will include a raffle and silent auction. Raffle tickets are $10 each, and among the prizes are a Haro Flightline Two Mountain Bike, original art by local artists such as Michael and Megan Abra Blessing, Kara Fellows Tripp, and Shirley Robinett, restaurant gift cards, silver State of Montana Necklace w/Yogo Sapphire, a LowePro Tahoe Camera Bag, weekend passes for the Targhee Music and Bluegrass Festival and much, much more.
All proceeds will go toward the Hawkers and help defray the costs of travel, lodging and meals in Salt Lake City. For more information, contact Reni Kessinger at (406) 581-4981 or rkessinger@qwestoffice.net. •
