Speech & Debate Team At American Heritage School Leads The Country In Congressional Debate

PLANTATION, Fla., Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- In a society that has been transformed into a predominantly digital world, students at one Florida high school realize the importance of putting down their electronic devices and standing up to communicate. The students are members of the Speech & Debate team at American Heritage School, a private college prep school with two campuses in South Florida. American Heritage has emerged as one of the top high school congressional debate programs in the country.

Congressional Debate is one of four types of debate offered in middle school and high school debate competitions. Students draft bills and resolutions a month before each tournament and then prepare and debate them at competition.  

American Heritage offers Congressional Debate as a high school honors elective course. Freshman Jonathan Bogen is enrolled in the class and says, "It gives me plenty of time to prepare for competition without interfering with my studies." Jonathan joined Speech & Debate in middle school, which he says prepared him to compete at the national level this year.

American Heritage is currently one of the schools with the highest number of bids to the Tournament of Champions, a prestigious tournament hosted annually by the University of Kentucky. Students earn bids by placing at the top of specific tournaments. Two bids earn a spot at the Tournament of Champions.

Dr. Michelle Sukenik, Psy.D., LMHC, NCC, Guidance Counselor at American Heritage, expresses the need for traditional communication when she says, "Public speaking enables our youth to make a personal connection in a way that social media does not."

Mr. P.J. Samorian, Speech and Debate Department Chair at American Heritage, coaches the Congressional Debate teams. He is pleased with the program's rapid development and the accolades his students achieved in a short time.

"Yes, our students are winning awards, and we are at the top of our game," Mr. Samorian states. "However, more importantly, because of the group nature of congressional debate, our students are building friendships and relationships with students from around the country that will last a lifetime."

About American Heritage School
American Heritage School (www.ahschool.com) is the #1 private school in the U.S. for the highest number of National Merit Scholars, math competition, and Model U.N.  American Heritage is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory school in South Florida serving PK3 - 12^th grades.

SOURCE American Heritage School