Let it Rain - Debaters Still Bring Their Collective "A" Game
Mon, 11/02/2009 - 10:15pm
The elementary/middle school division's debate tournament of "firsts" was held on Saturday October 24, 2009 at the Dr. Roland N. Patterson Academy complex hosted by CIVITAS with over 240 debaters, 50 student observers and 10 administrators in attendance. Forty-eight family members rounded out the packed facility as Holabird's Lindsey Krey became the first principal to receive the Cardin Cup!
Rain. Drops of treasured moisture, rhythmically announcing an event that has been eagerly anticipated by throngs of people - debaters, coaches, administrators, family members and community supporters. In many cultures rain heralds blessings galore with the accompanying joys and challenges of a plentiful harvest. Our fusion of fresh fruit - debate style - includes:
- A new division enjoying a laser beam surge in growth and unbridled zeal
- Multiple funders providing much needed financial support
- Scores of family members from the summer of their season of life to those upon whose shoulders we stand
- Glowing school administrators and school based colleagues embellished the numbers of well wishers
- Student observers offering the physical presence of those almost ready to test their debate wings, ably supporting fellow debaters and participating schools
- Excited community guests who needed to see for themselves that what they heard is indeed true - Debate Delivers Dreams!
Check out this Snap Shot for some pictures and additional information.
The rain stopped no one who was meant to be present on Saturday, October 24th at Dr. Roland N. Patterson Academy #082. We greatly appreciate the constant entry of those who hold the future exploits of the children of Baltimore City in a central position with the debate experience used as a solder that fuses one link of this ever growing chain of success to another.
Many parents and guardians dropped off their children and returned throughout the day to become audience members during debate rounds and cheered uproariously for debaters during the awards ceremony. Greeting involved family members always adds to the realization of what happens when dreams are not deferred and the home-school-community partnership seamlessly connects vision and action as debaters took to the debate rounds with budding expertise and honed debate skills as evidenced as they debated the resolution for this 2009-2010 season opener: Baltimore City should issue housing vouchers to homeless people. Parents, student observers, administrators and other community guests sought out the schools in their communities, the schools of their peers and family members and focused on the debate round at hand, offering support by their physical presence.
Drum Roll of Appreciation
We extend our gratitude to our host schools and principals - CIVITAS and Matt Wernsdorfer; KIPP Ujima Village Academy and Shawn Toler and MD Academy of Technology and Health Sciences (MATHS) and Rebekah Ghosh. Transportation services were provided by the steady hand of Bill Sivels through Sivels Transportation, Inc. BUDL alums, BUDL staff and BUDL apprentices were on board to support the fantastic debaters in the elementary/middle school division behind the scenes, during meals and at the end of the day during the ceremony honoring the talented, industrious debaters of the tournament. The school police officers of BCPSS on board included the ever present Officer Tony Atkins capably supported by Officer Marcus Laney and Officer K. K. Dia. Ms. Angela Thompson and Mr. Paul Turner supported through Central Office as we sought to bring our first debate tournament to the #082 edifice.
Like many inaugural events, we're looking forward to creating more opportunity for growth to reside in tandem with the accolades. We look to each other and to you for continued support as we create and sustain the young people in our charge to develop and enjoy front row seats to the monumental stage performance of lives that are reborn before our very eyes as Debate Delivers Dreams! Scroll down and enjoy reading the names of some of the young people who made history on October 24, 2009 knowing that you were there and your presence tells its own story.
Top Elementary Speakers
1. Dakota Cromer and N'Dia Langhorn - City Springs CL
2. Caitlin White and Bria Jones - Baltimore Christian WJ
3. La'Cendria Pulley - Hampstead Hill PM
4. Morgan Kirkman - City Springs JK
5. Anton Holmes - Inner Harbor East/Tench Tilghman HS
Top Elementary Teams
1. Baltimore Christian - Caitlin White and Bria Jones WJ
2. City Springs - Kaiya Johns and Morgan Kirkman JK
3. Baltimore Christian - Prince Azeem Greene and Tyree Brown GB
4. Baltimore Christian - Iyanna Arrington and Kiara Snow AS
5. Baltimore Christian - Venae Owens and Kamran Mason OM
Top Novice Speakers
1. Nea Williams, Fallstaff WC
2. Datshawn Wilkins, Crossroads WJ
3. Breonna Cook, Fallstaff WC
4. Salecia Poles, Crossroads JP
5. Akyra Brown, Francis Scott Key BB
Top Novice Teams
1. Fallstaff - Nea Williams and Breonna Cook WC
2. Margaret Brent - Spirit Singletary and Robtrea Brown SB
3. Fallstaff - Montre Gregory and Zachary Holiday GH
4. Mt Royal - Brittany Schaffer and Taja Wise SW
5. Northeast - Sanecia Wills and Jade Moore WM
Top JV Speakers
1. Kwanashae Pitts, Tench Tilghman PH
2. Caprice Medina, Holabird MM
3. Brian Matthew, Crossroads ML
4. Tiana Thomas, Holabird/Civitas ST
5. Monte Sampson, Crossroads SC
Top JV Teams
1. Bluford East - Jerrod Baine and Darrell Turner BT
2. Holabird/Civitas - Taiza'Nae Summerville and Tiana Thomas ST
3. Crossroads - Monte Sampson and William Christian SC
4. Crossroads - Brian Matthew and Jaquann Logan ML
5. Crossroads - Alexis Hill and Samora Moore HM
Top Varsity Speakers
1. Darius Kelly, Bluford East GK
2. Jewel Chiosi, Crossroads WC
3. Jasmine Frieson, Crossroads FS
4. Darryl Elliot, ConneXions EB
5. Ayana Watson, Crossroads WC
Top Varsity Teams
1. Crossroads - Ayanna Watson and Jewel Chiosi WC
2. Roland Park - Yanah Valkenberg and Darius Johnson VJ
3. Bluford East - Kirk Edmonds and Mati Baker EB
4. Bluford East - Jowell Gault and Darius Kelly GK
5. Stadium - Tychelle Brown and Jake Creek BC