NSDA is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization for middle and high school students in the United States. This tournament marks the capstone of its activities serving more than 140,000 members nationwide.

At the East Iowa District Tournament, Feb. 9 through Feb. 10, Divya Ramadugu placed first in International Exemptuous Speaking. A category of speech that requires competitors to think on their feet as well as have educated background knowledge on worldly topics. 

“Since the event that I do is extemporaneous speaking, I never know what the topic I’m going to speak on is going to be,” Ramadugu said. “Each round [in the competition] I drew a question that asks an international political question, like ‘Does Iran have enough control over its proxy forces to prevent a wider conflict with the United States?’ Then I’m given 30 minutes to prepare a speech that answers the question and is entertaining to listen to.“

This is the second year Ramadugu has participated in the Speech and Debate Club at Kennedy. However, she has long prior been familiar with the scene.

“I think having my sister compete in public forum debate throughout high school also played a role in how I positively view forensics,” Ramadugu said. “She would tell me about tournaments she went to or people she met on the national circuit and it really just seemed like an interesting activity.”

Being as successful as Ramadugu as an exempt competitor takes a lot of time and commitment. Entire weekends are often dedicated to traveling to NSDA competitions to compete. Sacrifices, such as dropping show choir and other extracurriculars, were made on Ramdagu’s behalf to be able to direct her focus on Extemptous Speaking.

“Divya has an enthusiastic and driven work ethic,” Kennedy Debate coach, Jasti Shalini said. “I am inspired by Divya’s drive, which I have observed when she prepares for events such as extemporaneous speaking at tournaments. “

Ramadugu balances a lot on her plate; President of the Young Democrats club, auditioned Jazz choir member, an AP student and Kennedy Debate participant. 

“I manage to do international extemporaneous speaking with my other extracurriculars by trying to get my work done early,” Ramadugu said. “During tournaments, it can get pretty busy and stressful with so many rounds of competition in a day, so I try to get school work out of the way before I go”.

Through elementary and middle school, Ramadugu participated in similar positions to speech and debate. She spent eight years in the Program for Academic and Creative Talent (PACT) gifted program. PACT fosters leadership and fluid intelligence skills, allowing students to move at a faster pace and participate in a myriad of competitions at the district, state and national levels. 

Ramadugu participated in Optimist Speech, Mock Trial and the Individual Performance category in National History Day (NHD). All of which have given her the skills to make it to the National Speech and Debate tournament this year. In 2020, Ramadugu went to the national competition for NHD and in 2022, she and her team went to state for Mock Trial.

“Doing [PACT] events from a young age got me better used to the feeling of competing. It was like a stepping stone to where I am now with my extracurriculars,” Ramadugu said.

In her first year of Speech and Debate Club at Kennedy, she competed in the Duke University Invitational Tournament, won third place at the Iowa Forensic League State Tournament in Extemp Speaking and competed in Phoenix, Arizona for NSDA last summer.

“Last year was in some ways more difficult than this year since I was still learning about my event and how extemporaneous speaking works,” Ramadugu said. “I’m very grateful for these opportunities to keep learning and I hope to go to more tournaments in the future.”

This June marks the 100th anniversary of NSDA and will be held in Des Moines, Iowa at the NSDA national office which is also their historical headquarters.  The competition will be held from Jun. 11 through Jun. 21.

“For Divya, I hope to see her future filled with opportunities to learn content that interests her and continue to travel to compete for speech and debate events,” Jasti said. “I hope she finds happiness and passion in what she does. “