June 21, 2023

Congratulations to the Lakeville North High School Speech team on their successes at the 2023 National Speech & Debate Tournament, which took place June 11-16 in Phoenix, Arizona. The team earned a School of Excellence award for placing in the top 20 out of more than 2,000 schools in attendance, and 11th grade student Aaimah Khawaja competed as a finalist in Impromptu placing 6th out of 555 entries. 

Additionally, the following students competed as semifinalists, quarterfinalists, octafinalists, and double-octafinalists.

• Gintare Piscikaite (12) - Semifinalist - Informative Speaking - 11th out of 268 entries
• Anna Branchini (11) - Quarterfinalist - Program Oral Interpretation - Top 30 out of 271 entries 
• Meredith Leo (9) - Quarterfinalist - Impromptu - Top 30 out of 555 entries 
• Aiden Clayburn (12) Octafinalist - Humorous Interpretation - Top 60 out of 262 entries
• Charese Mutebi (11) - Octafinalist - Original Oratory - Top 60 out of 286 entries
• Louise Nguyen (11) - Octafinalist - Impromptu - Top 60 out of 555 entries
• Devon DeFoe (12) Octafinalist - Impromptu - Top 60 out of 555 entries
• Ankita Gurung (11) - Double-octafinalist - Poetry - Top 123 out of 467 entries
• Ella Raiche (11) - Double-octafinalist - Impromptu - Top 124 out of 555 entries