PECHS Debaters Compete At State Finals

Three members of the Prince Edward County High School Debate Team competed at the Virginia High School League State Debate Tournament held at Liberty University on April 25-26.  Triston Smith, Devan Eppes, and Ellie Swanson,  (first through third from right above) were members of the 1A/2A/3A Student Congress.  First, they were sworn in as senators (above). The group then set the docket for the weekend of congressional debate, from official legislation that had been previously submitted by each of 28 qualifying senators from the 1A, 2A, and 3A schools from across Virginia. These pieces of legislation were written from eight topics in the areas of Domestic, International, Economic, and Virginia issues. This was followed by four sessions of Student Congress, a simulation of the real thing, with bills and resolutions being considered and debated repeatedly with affirmation or negation speeches and questioning.  Students earned points for both the quantity and quality of their speeches.  The Prince Edward delegation was immediately approached by two separate factions that had been established following regional tournaments, wherein they were asked to consider “deals” to join with either faction.  The students, all three of whom were in their first year of Student Congress, were overwhelmed with the attention.  “There was a moment when I realized, ‘Oh yeah—this must be what it’s like to be in real Congress!’” said PE Junior Devan Eppes.  The experience was both intense and rewarding.  “It was challenging, yet fulfilling,” said Eppes, who, with his teammates, is already plotting strategy for next year. The Eagle senators finished in the middle of the pack, a great accomplishment for first year debaters. Debate is the first activity to be sanctioned by the VHSL, in 1913.  The League went on to oversee all Virginia public high school sports and academic activities.