Sumter High School Speech and Debate students earn national award

Two Sumter High School seniors, Carmine Bookhart and Corbin Weatherwax, have earned the prestigious Speaking and Service Award from the National Speech and Debate Association. The national honor recognizes students who participate in more than 100 hours of community service within a single academic year while actively competing in speech and debate. Out of the 140,000 active members of the National Speech and Debate Honor Society, fewer than 1% of students receive this national recognition.

The award reflects NSDA's mission of encouraging students to become critical thinkers and effective communicators as well as engaged members of their communities. Both Bookhart and Weatherwax earned the distinction through their dedication to the Sumter High School Speech and Debate Team, combining their competitive excellence with civic engagement.

"Speech and debate has encouraged me to become more confident in using my voice and speaking up for things that matter to me," said Carmine Bookhart, who also serves as vice president of the team. "I've learned that having a voice also comes with a responsibility to use it to help others and make a difference in my community. That is one of the reasons I enjoy community service because I'm able to take what I care about and turn it into action that can positively impact someone else."

"Community service, similar to debating, is a way I like to express myself and engage with others," said Corbin Weatherwax, who serves as historian of the team. "Doing countless debates over these past two years has really opened up my mind. One of the things that has been more heavily debated is environmental issues, and community service cleanups are a perfect way to turn my views on these issues into action."

A growing speech and debate program

The students' recognition comes during a period of growth for the Sumter High program. After more than two decades of inactivity, the team has quickly become an established presence in South Carolina tournaments. During its first year, more than 50 students joined the program, competing in six tournaments and earning 11 awards, including a first-place finish in congressional debate.

"This award is an excellent reflection of what we hope our students gain from speech and debate," said Joshua Miller, the team's advisor. "Speech and debate is about much more than just winning rounds. Our students learn to use their voices thoughtfully and respectfully, engage with challenging ideas and recognize that their abilities carry a responsibility to contribute to their community."

Service beyond competition

In addition to competing at tournaments, the team emphasizes service and community engagement. Among its recent service efforts was a school blood drive hosted in partnership with The Blood Connection. The event drew 84 appointments and successfully collected 69 units of blood. The blood donated through this organization remains local for use by nearby hospitals and medical helicopters, with the donations estimated to help save more than 200 lives.

The Speaking and Service Award honors the same commitment to communication, leadership and service that the team seeks to instill in its students.

"We are incredibly proud of these students," Miller added. "They have demonstrated that being a successful competitor and serving your community go hand in hand. Their accomplishments represent the kind of leadership and excellence we hope to cultivate through our program and in our school."