Team History

Each NSDA District has the opportunity to name a District Student of the Year. Coaches may nominate a graduating senior who best represents the tenets of the Association’s Code of Honor: humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service.

Congratulations to Ramona Edwards for being voted the District Student of the Year by the Rocky Mountain North District coaches.  This is a huge honor since there are many exceptional students graduating this year that their coaches nominated with an average GPA of 4.34.  Ramona won it by representing the core tenants as the best of all the nominated students.

Congratulations Anna Sundheim on earning the prestigious NSDA Academic All-American Award. The Academic All-American award recognizes high school students who have earned the degree of Superior Distinction (750 points); completed at least five semesters of high school; demonstrated outstanding character and leadership; and earned a GPA of 3.7 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent). Less than 2% of speech and debate competitors earn this prestigious award! Anna blew past most of the criteria for this award, and it is an honor and privilege to coach such an exceptional student in speech and debate. She is the third student in Loveland High School history to achieve this fantastic award. She continues the tradition of sharing her success with a cupcake. 

Congratulations! It is my pleasure to inform you that the 2021 National Speech & Debate Tournament marked the 10th time Loveland High School attended the tournament. It is a tremendous thing to attend the National Tournament once and a truly outstanding achievement to attend 10 times. Few schools can claim such an accomplishment.

It is only through the support and dedication of advisors and administrators that an achievement like this is possible. Your program’s dedication to speech and debate activities is evident and your support of the activity is greatly appreciated. Thank you for everything that you do to empower students at Loveland High School through speech and debate. We hope for many more years of you and your school’s involvement in our community.

Sincerely,
J. Scott Wunn
Executive Director
National Speech and Debate Association

The District Alumni Achievement Award showcases a speech and debate alumni from the district who has utilized their speech and debate talents to achieve success for the speech and debate community. Below is the winning nomination submission:

I would like to nominate Alex DeMartine.  He has been instrumental to our Northern Colorado community in several ways.  First, he has judged every weekend in just about every round.  He has always taken rounds when most judges are setting availability to be very limited.  From a Loveland perspective, he has allowed our students to double-enter and beyond so that our students are able to participate well past single or double events.  Many schools really enjoy Alex's thorough feedback and style which makes speech and debate even more enjoyable.

Beyond judging, Alex has helped coach the Loveland squad.  I could not have made it through the season without him.  He took over the PF and LD debate teams and really helped them grow. So much so that he got our freshman team to be competitive with the best teams in the district.  Getting them to qualify for State and Almost into elimination round at Nat Quals.  He got a first-year LD debater to qualify for State and competitive at Districts.  His presence has kept our team together and I am very thankful that he helped every week.  He would answer questions and help at any hour and any day they needed him.

The District Volunteer of the Year Award showcases individuals who have given extraordinary time and talents to the mission of meaningfully involving more students in speech and debate.  Below is the winning nomination submission: 

I would like to nominate Everett Graves-Swinney for volunteer of the year for the district.  Everett found my program last year and I have been grateful ever since.  It isn't every day a two-time national qualifier asks if he can help coach the students.  He has been amazing working with the students in debate and extemp creating a competitive edge for Loveland where we didn't have one previously.   He has been truely selfless with his incredibly valuable time.

Everett has judged every weekend and we are lucky to have him week in and out regardless if we have enough judges or not.  Having such an experienced judge who is willing to judge everything while providing top-notch feedback on what to improve has been a source of pride in what we can offer the district. 

Loveland High School is proud to announce that Caitlin Tapia, Anna Sundheim, Emma Balwin, Aiden Hurst, and Ramona Edwards qualified to the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament. Only 1% of National Speech and Debate Association members qualify for the tournament, which is the pinnacle of competitive public speaking. 

More than 6,000 students from 1,200 schools are expected to compete at the 2021 National Speech and Debate Tournament. The tournament offers 22 different competitive events in debate, acting, and other public speaking events. More than $150,000 in scholarships will be awarded to students 

Since 1925, the National Speech & Debate Association has been recognizing student and coach achievements in speech and debate. The National Tournament is one of the ways this is done, by allowing students from across the country to compete in a week-long competition that emphasizes excellence, academic achievement, advocacy, as well as fostering future leaders.

Loveland High School is proud to announce that Caitlin Tapia, Anna Sundheim, Emma Balwin, Aiden Hurst, Alice Bradley, Chloe Domago, and Ramona Edwards qualified to the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 5A State Tournament. Less than 10% of speech and debate students in the state qualify for the tournament, which has the largest, most competitive schools in the state.