Hacienda La Puente Middle School Students Excel During Speech and Debate Tournament

HLPUSD congratulates all the talented students who participated in the Middle School Speech and Debate District Championships, held at Willow Adult on March 16.

In partnership with Advantage Communications, students across the District are gaining communication and critical thinking skills, enhancing their creativity and collaboration, and building confidence in speaking publicly and expressing their ideas eloquently.

Valinda School of Academics, Fairgrove Academy, and Mesa Robles School, our small, mid-size, and large-size teams, took first place, respectively and Lassalette School, Orange Grove Middle School, and Cedarlane Academy won second place for the small, mid-size, and large-size teams.

Additionally, we would like to give a shout-out to all our championship winners, who moved the judges with their excellence in dramatic, humorous, duo, and program oral interpretation, prose, poetry, declamation, storytelling, impromptu, and public speaking.

This is the Speech and Debate program’s fourth year in motion, and it continues to cultivate self-assurance and boost academic success among students. Due to its success, the District expanded speech and debate to all four comprehensive high schools at the start of the 2023-24 school year. In February, our talented high school speech and debate contestants traveled to Harvard University to compete against some of the best in the nation. Congratulations again to Los Altos High School’s Allison Hernandez for reaching the quarter-finals and qualifying for the Tournament of Champions.

HLPUSD commends all participants for their hard work, dedication, and exemplary performances! We are proud to be, HLPUSD!