In a display of intellectual competence, the Elmore Stoutt High School emerged victorious in the highly anticipated finals of the 2024 Inter-Secondary School Debate.
The intense battle, held on Wednesday, saw Elmore Stoutt High School narrowly edging out their formidable opponents, St. Georges Secondary School, in a debate of exceptional quality.
The moot under contention, “All students exiting secondary schools in the Virgin Islands should attain a technical qualification,” sparked a riveting exchange of arguments from both sides. Leading the charge for the high school were Naomi Onwufuju, Adrianne Thomas, and Kander Richardson, who passionately advocated in favour of the moot, ultimately securing victory for their school.
Describing the calibre of the debate as superb, chief adjudicator Kimberly Crabb-Adams highlighted the pivotal role played by the rebuttal phase in determining the winner. She lauded the prepared speeches delivered by both schools, with St. Georges earning an impressive 483 points, closely trailed by Elmore Stoutt with 483.5 points.
Naomi Onwufuju, recognized for her exceptional performance in delivering the rebuttal for Elmore Stoutt, was awarded the title of the best debater, further solidifying her school’s triumph in the championship.
Representing St. Georges Secondary School in the fiercely contested debate were De-Andra Sylvera, Yaasmeen Said, and Trinity Lettsome, whose articulate arguments contributed to the intensity of the competition.
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