Speech and Debate

Randolph-Macon Academy is home to the oldest Speech and Debate team in the Virginia region of the National

Forensics League (NFL).  Consistently one of the top-ranked Speech and Debate Teams and State Champions in Virginia, we strive for excellence in all our students.

Competitive high school forensics provides students the opportunity to compete in various events with different expectations and different styles of presentation. Most of our students come to us with little to no training in the field of public speaking. Speech and Debate events polish a student's understanding of what others find interesting and persuasive, how they respond to pitch and tone, and how to bring this understanding into a round to win. Our experienced coaches and captains help team members learn how to succeed at their events, and gain skills that will be important throughout their lives.

Students are encouraged to study and perfect public speaking events (Declamation, Original Oratory), limited preparation events (Impromptu, Extemporaneous), literary interpretation events (Prose, Poetry, Dramatic, Humorous, Dramatic Duo), and debate (Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congress, and Model UN). 

Our team travels across the country - competing at Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Vassar, Wake Forest, Columbia, and a host of other colleges - showcasing the great benefits that an R-MA education can bring.  Debate Team members get a unique experience of life on these colleges, working with the college Debate teams that manage and judge the tournaments. R-MA Debaters have gone on to enter Vassar, Grinnell, Bryn Mawr, Boston College, Columbia, Tufts, Wake Forest, Dickinson, Smith, Mount Holyoke, Duke, William and Mary, and a host of other colleges, gaining over seven million dollars in scholarships to such colleges.

We welcome auditions for the team.  No prior experience is necessary.  Come join R-MA Speech and Debate and take your part in continuing a tradition of excellence stretching back to 1900.  If you are interested in joining the R-MA Speech and Debate Team, send an email to Coach Lauren Burt to schedule a visit to a team practice session and an interview.

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