The Speech and Debate team of Edison Middle School were honored for their achievements during the 2024-25 competitive season. Seven members were inducted into the National Speech and Debate Association Honor Society for Middle Schoolers. To be inducted, students must have accumulated at least 25 NSDA competition points, competed in at least four tournaments and show leadership and skill in persuasive debate or competitive speech events. The seven students pictured all competed at the OSDA State Middle School tournament held in February at Wooster High School. Two of the students were honored for having advanced to the final round at the State Tournament: Austin Warren, finalist in Congressional Debate and Kasen Proctor, 6th place in Interpretation. Kasen will compete at the National Speech and Debate competition in Des Moines, Iowa in mid-June, EMS's first national competitor in speech. (In 2017 EMS qualified two policy debate teams at the Middle School level. That year the team of Aidan Anderson and Otto Berckmueller placed 13th in the nation in policy debate!)Picture from left to right are: Avery Thurston (Congressional Debate), Harper Salmons (Interpretation), Madison Moon (Congressional Debate); Kasen Proctor (Interpretation; Natalie Salmons, (Interpretation), Natalie Mees (Interpretation); Austin Warren (Congressional Debate)The EMS team plans to broaden its competition in debate next season by participating in Public Forum Debate and Policy Debate and in speech by adding Declamation, Extemporaneous Speaking and Rhetoric. The team is coached by Mike Amstutz.