On April 19 and 20, Alief ISD middle school students competed in the Texas Junior Speech and Debate Association (TJSDA) State Tournament. This tournament represents the highest level of middle school speech and debate competition in the State of Texas; it determines State Champions in 18 different events.
The following students were recognized at the conclusion of the tournament.
Albright Middle School—Fifth Place Sweepstakes
Shirley La—State Champion in Storytelling, Semifinalist in Humorous Interpretation, Semifinalist in Prose
Dat Nguyen—State Champion in Congressional Debate
N. Ephraim Nwabuko—State Champion in Extemporaneous Speaking, Fourth Place in Impromptu Speaking
Lauren Phang and Audrey Hong—Sixth Place in Duet Improvisation
Aazan Nawaz—Seventh Place in Congressional Debate
Dustin Martinez and Yuhuan Diao—Ninth Place in Public Forum Debate
Bajen Ceesay—Semifinalist in Informative Speaking
Hayden Ha—Semifinalist in Humorous Interpretation
Trang Trinh—Semifinalist in Congressional Debate
Jocelyn Chavez—Quarterfinalist in Poetry
JuJu Olatoye—Quarterfinalist in Poetry
Lauren Phang—Quarterfinalist in Prose
Kelly Van—Quarterfinalist in Prose
Olle Middle School
Rodrigo Castillo, Yoselin Espinal Martinez, Preston Nguyen, Catherine Nneji, and Jasmine Reyes—Third Place in World Schools Debate
Italee Bolivar—Semifinalist in Original Spoken Word Poetry
Elizabeth David Balogun—Semifinalist in Original Spoken Word Poetry
O'Donnell Middle School
Aaron Salas—Semifinalist in Extemporaneous Speaking
Len Le—Quarterfinalist in Poetry