WHS Speech students bound for regional UIL

Five speech students from Whitesboro High School (WHS) have qualified for the regional UIL competition later this month.

On Saturday, April 6, WHS UIL Coach Tonya Harper took six first-year speech students to the district competition held at Callisburg High School. They competed against students from all other schools in district 10-3A.

Speakers compete in several categories, including Informative Speaking, Persuasive Speaking, Poetry Interpretation and Lincoln-Douglas Debate. To qualify for this competition, these students have been practicing all year long before and after school, as there is no class that allows for preparation during the school day. They attended at least two official practice meets with the rest of the academic team and numerous duals with other schools in the area that are not in Whitesboro’s classification. WHS speakers have only been learning these skills since January after UIL Congress finished.

“What an amazing group of kids that I am so blessed to get to do this journey with,” Harper said. “They’re hard-working, full of desire and grit, but best of all kind. They are the real deal!”

Emily Cogburn earned alternate in Informative (and champion in Poetry with her coach Marylee Carney). Ada Pierson earned third in both Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Informative. Ripley Harper earned second in Persuasive and alternate in Current Events. Justin Patterson earned alternate in Persuasive. Chasity Harper earned alternate in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Ireland Lawler placed fifth in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and second alternate.

Those advancing will head to UIL regional competition at Tyler Junior College on April 26 and 27 to try to earn a spot at the state UIL Speech Championships.