By Brooke Davidson, Bomber Media
Senior Eden Truax received the National Speech and Debate Association Academic All American Award for her years of involvement with the Kenston speech and debate team.
This award, achieved by less than 2% of speech and debate participants, is won by accumulating points and demonstrating outstanding character and leadership skills.
Points are awarded by attending tournaments, but participants can earn more points by placing in their event. Truax has received over 750 points throughout her speech and debate career thus far.
“It’s nice to be recognized for something that I’m so passionate about and that I love so much. It is truly such a fun experience and everyone should do it,” said Truax.
Truax has been competing in speech and debate tournaments since the eighth grade, but had an interest in the club when she moved to the district.
“I came in seventh grade and was interested in doing it, and then in eighth grade, I knew I liked acting and [thought] debating could be cool,” said Truax.
Although practices are held weekly for club members to read and critique others’ speeches, Truax says that most of her rehearsing happens on her own time.
Despite all the research, memorizing, and presenting that must take place before a tournament, there is more to speech and debate than competing for Truax.
“The people are so nice. Genuinely, it is so fun to talk to everybody. With everything you hear, you learn a lot and it’s kind of teaching you how to see the world in a more open way and be able to critique in a very friendly manner and to be encouraging,” said Truax.
Truax is even helping to coach the middle school speech and debate club.
“Right now, since we don’t really have a fixed speech coach, I stepped in for the middle school to help them,” said Truax.
Truax is hoping to continue her speech and debate career at Ohio University as a part of their forensics team.▮
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Brooke Davidson is a multimedia reporter for Bomber Media and a junior at Kenston High School.