Speech & Debate

For over thirty years the College Prep Speech and Debate Team has pursued excellence in the Forensic Arts.

Thinking Out Loud Since 1977

Though the team is consistently competitive at local, state, and national levels, the CPS coaching staff is committed to the philosophy that speech and debate competition is valuable for all students, not only those who choose to make it their primary activity. We strive to maintain a program that supports the most committed in scaling the loftiest heights, while providing opportunities for all students to improve their skills and test themselves as appropriate given their interest and other commitments.

The College Preparatory School Speech and Debate Team is a proud member of the National Forensic League, a national honor society for speech and debate competitors. Locally, we compete in the Golden Gate Speech Association, a league of the California High School Speech Association.

The team participates in twenty to thirty tournaments each year, though most competitors attend no more than ten. Approximately ten competitions are hosted by our local league, culminating in the California State Championship in May. The National Forensic League hosts two local qualifying tournaments and a National Championship. The remainder of our calendar is taken up with regional and national invitationals. In debate, these invitationals culminate in the Tournament of Champions, held each year in Lexington, KY.

Though we bring home our fair share of trophies, we prize most the less tangible aspects of speech and debate competition--the camaraderie born of long weekends of competition and late nights in the library, the rush that comes with mastering a difficult challenge, the self-confidence developed through testing oneself, and the humility learned in listening to others.

The Julia Burke Memorial Endowment for Debate

The College Prep Speech and Debate Team receives generous support from the Julia Burke Memorial Endowment for Debate, established by Marilyn and Jerry Burke in memory of their daughter, Julia (class of 2000), an outstanding debater at College Prep. The income from this endowment is used to assist with the team's national debate travel expenses, making national circuit debate competition available for all participants.