June 22, 2021

The 89th National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Tournament took place virtually on June 14-19. This tournament was the largest ever, with 6,013 online competitors from 1,426 schools in 47 U.S. states and territories and 7 countries. Competition included the the top 6% of all NSDA members. Two Plano ISD students earned national championships.

School Awards

• Jasper High School - School of Outstanding Distinction, coach Tom McCaffrey
• Plano West Senior High - School of Excellence in Speech, coach Robey Holland

Event Awards

Congressional Debate: Senate

• Atharv Kulkarni, Jasper High School, first place - national champion

(Photo courtesy of NSDA.)

Congressional Debate: House

• Srjana Srivatsa, Jasper High School, semifinalist

International Extemporaneous Speaking

• Gabriel Bo, Jasper High School, quarterfinalist
• Anushka Kumar, Plano West Senior High, octofinalist 
• Pranav Pattatathunaduvil, Plano West Senior High, first place - national champion

(Photo courtesy of NSDA.)

• Angela Wang, Plano West Senior High, eighth place 

Public Forum Debate

• Brennan Lee and Brian Zhou, Jasper High School, eleventh place  

United States Extemporaneous Speaking

• Jishnu Basu, Plano Senior High, quarterfinalist 
• Charles Hou, Plano West Senior High, quarterfinalist
• Kyle Letterer, Jasper High School, eighth place
• Madeline Tsao, Jasper High School, quarterfinalist 
• Leo Yu, Plano West Senior High, octofinalist