Debate

Newark Public Schools Students Win Five First-Place Awards at Prestigious New York City Invitational Speech & Debate Tournament

From left, Science Park High School’s Moyinoluwa Olagadeyo, Mofoluwa Olagadeyo , Risiqat Adeniji, and Anne Blessing Odra.

From left, Barringer High School’s Sheekira King, Toumaye Siripe, Edgar Medina, and Britney Deer.

Central High School’s Jamal Kirton, left, and Champion Allwell.

Arts High School’s Kamira Hall, left, and Lordina Gakpe.

From left, University High School’s Josmanuel Deleon, Dante Elliott, Jazzlee Usher, and Belonica Maceno.

NEW YORK CITY – Newark Public Schools students won five first-place awards at the 2025 New York City Invitational Speech & Debate Tournament, one of the nation’s most competitive and respected forensics competitions.

The three-day event, hosted annually by the Bronx High School of Science, attracts hundreds of elite debaters and speakers from across the country. Newark students from Science Park High School, Central High School, Barringer High School, University High School, and Arts High School distinguished themselves among the nation’s best, earning top placements in multiple categories and team sweepstakes honors.

Newark Public Schools’ five first-place awards are:

  • Policy Debate: Mofoluwa Olagadeyo and Risiqat Adeniji – Science Park High School
  • Dramatic Interpretation: Jamal Kirton – Central High School
  • Duo Interpretation: Jamal Kirton and Champion Allwell – Central High School
  • Poetry and Prose: Jamal Kirton – Central High School
  • Original Oratory: Britney Deer – Barringer High School

“Our students’ extraordinary success at one of the country’s most competitive tournaments shows how Newark Public Schools continue to raise the bar in academic competition,” said Superintendent León. “Winning five first-place awards at a national-level tournament is a tremendous achievement, and we could not be prouder of these high school students and their coaches.”

“Once again, Newark’s students proved that our city produces some of the most talented debaters and speakers in the nation,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Their victories reflect the passion, preparation, and excellence that define Newark Public Schools.”

Science Park Sweeps The Policy Debate Tournament

Under the guidance of Coach Jonathan Alston, Science Park High School captured 1st Place in Policy Debate, with the team of Mofoluwa Olagadeyo and Risiqat Adeniji taking top honors. As they advanced through the tournament brackets, they defeated teams from New York, Maryland, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Teammates Anne Odra and Moyinoluwa Olagadeyo reached the Octofinals, while Anne-Blessing Odra (3rd), Moyinoluwa Olagadeyo (6th), Mofoluwa Olagadeyo (7th), and Risiqat Adeniji (8th) earned individual Speaker Awards, underscoring Science Park’s continued dominance in policy debate. There were 126 speakers in the Policy Debate tournament.

Central Scores A Hat Trick

Led by Coach Dennis Philbert, Central High School delivered an exceptional showing with three first-place finishes. Jamal Kirton earned 1st Place in Dramatic Interpretation and 1st Place in Poetry and Prose and teamed with Champion Allwell to win 1st Place in Duo Interpretation. Central also earned 5th Place Overall in the Sweepstakes Team Award, highlighting the school’s depth of talent.

Barringer Brings It And Achieves Excellence

With Coach Michael Sowell at the helm, Barringer High School continued its strong forensics tradition. Britney Deer and Toumaye Siripe took 1st and 2nd Place respectively in Original Oratory, while Sheekira King placed 3rd in Poetry and Prose and Edgar Medina earned 6th in Humorous Interpretation. Barringer also achieved 2nd Place Overall in the Sweepstakes Team Award, marking one of its best tournament performances to date.

University Phoenixes Rise To The Finals

With Coach Saul Grullon leading the Phoenix, University High School’s Dante Elliott earned 5th Place in Dramatic Interpretation and, with Josmanuel Deleon, took 5th Place in Duo Interpretation. Deleon also reached the semifinals in both Dramatic Interpretation and Poetry and Prose, joined by Belonica Maceno and Jazzlee Usher, who advanced to the semifinal round as well.

Arts High’s Hall Places Fourth In The Finals

Representing Arts High School and coached by David Richardson, Kamira Hall placed 4th in both Program of Oral Interpretation and Poetry and Prose, while Lordina Gakpe reached the semifinals in Poetry and Prose.

About Newark Public Schools

The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676.  The District currently enrolls over 40,000 students in 65 schools.  After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983

Newark Public Schools Students Make History at National Speech and Debate Tournament

Newark Public Schools Students Make History at National Speech and Debate Tournament

Central and University High School competitors earn national honors; district recognized among Top 20 schools nationwide

DES MOINES – Newark Public Schools student orators earned national recognition last week at the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) National Tournament, capping off a historic year for the district’s speech and debate programs.

For the first time in district history, Central High School seniors Cassidy Harris and Ayomide Adekoya placed in the top ranks of the Dramatic Interpretation national championship—Harris earning fifth place and Adekoya sixth in the country. Dramatic Interpretation is one of the national tournament’s main events.

“In the 100-year history of the NSDA, they were the first from our district to grace the national tournament’s stage for a main event,” said Dennis Philbert, Central High School Speech and Debate Coach. “Not only did they make history, but Central High also received a Team Sweepstakes Award, placing in the Top 20 out of more than 1,600 high schools nationwide.”

University High School’s Malakai Yepes also delivered a standout performance, placing seventh in the national Poetry championship. Poetry is one of the national tournament’s supplemental events. It was the second consecutive year Yepes finished in the national rankings.

Science Park High School’s Risiqat Adeniji and Mofoluwa Olagadeyo, who won the Policy Debate state championship in March, came in seventh place in the same category at the national tournament.

“Our students have once again shown Newark’s excellence to the nation,” said Superintendent León. “To see our scholars rise to the top in a field as demanding as competitive speech and debate at the national level is a demonstration of their brilliance, their coaches’ dedication, and the culture of excellence we are building in our schools. I am proud beyond words of Cassidy, Ayomide, Malakai, Risiqat, Mofoluwa, and every student who competed and made history for Newark.”

“This extraordinary achievement reflects the power of student voice and the strength of our district’s academic programs,” said Hasani K. Council, President of the Newark Board of Education. “Their performances on the national stage spotlight the talent and determination that exist in every Newark school. On behalf of the Board, I congratulate our students, their families, and their coaches for raising the bar and making us all proud.”

Additional top performances included the following:

Central High School – Dennis Philbert, Coach

  • Jamal Kirton – Semifinalist (14th place), Dramatic Interpretation
  • Alexander Ahenkora – ranked in the Top 30, Poetry Reading

Barringer High School – Michael Sowell, Coach

  • Britney Deer – ranked in the Top 24 in the Poetry and Prose categories

University High School – Saul Grullon, Coach

  • Michaela White – Quarterfinalist, Program of Oral Interpretation
  • Malakai Yepes – Octofinalist, Program of Oral Interpretation
  • Dante Elliott & Josmauel Deleon – Octofinalists, Duo Interpretation

Science Park High School Middle Schoolers – Jonathan Alston

  • Amoor Smith & Vitor Guimaraes – Quarterfinalists, Policy Debate
  • Amoor Smith – 6th Place, Speaker
  • Vitor Guimaraes – 7th Place, Speaker

About Newark Public Schools

The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676.  The District currently enrolls over 41,000 students in 64 schools.  After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.

For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983

Science Park’s Ashley Lourenco Wins National Debate Tournament

Senior is the first in school’s history to take the tournament’s top honor and wins tournament’s best speaker award

Champion Debater Ashley Lourenco and Debate Teacher Jonathan Alston

NEWARK, N.J. – When Ashley Lourenco walked into Science Park High School’s debate class on Monday, the students applauded. Word had already gotten out about what she had accomplished over the weekend.

Lourenco, a senior, did what no Science Park High School student had ever done: win the New York City Invitational Debate and Speech Tournament. The three-day competition held annually at the Bronx High School of Science is one of the nation’s most demanding speech and debate contests, and it attracts skilled debaters from all over the country.

“For the first time ever, we’ve taken first place at this particular tournament,” said a very proud Jonathan Alston, the school’s debate coach and a former debate team member.

“I’m excited about the win. I’ve been waiting a long time for it to happen,” Lourenco said.

Indeed, Lourenco said she has invested five years in learning and training and more than 50 hours of research, supported by students and alumni coaches. She has competed in other tournaments previously, which contributed to her readiness for this win.

Last weekend’s tournament began with six preliminary debates, two on Friday and four on Saturday. Participants needed a strong win-loss record to qualify for the elimination bracket.

In each round, the debated question was the same: Should the federal government require workers to be paid a living wage? Lourenco and her teammates argued for the negative side.

Based on her performance in the preliminary debates, Lourenco also won the tournament’s Best Speaker award as the team advanced to the elimination rounds. Lourenco bested opponents from schools from New Orleans, Southlake, TX; and Durham, NC, before facing a debater from Strake Jesuit College Preparatory School in Houston.

“It really was because of the cross-examination,” said Alston, referring to when opposing debaters are in direct dialogue with each other, crediting Lourenco’s composure during the high-stakes face-off.

When the competition gets heated, it’s not uncommon for emotions to run high among debaters, Lourenco said. Many of them have come to know each other through years of debating each other.

“Having those moments that can be very contentious is fine,” Lourenco said. “I debate my friends all the time. But if somebody says something that’s ridiculous, I’m not going to be nice about it.”

Lourenco, a lifelong Newark resident, has attended Science Park since the seventh grade. She previously attended the Ann Street School, where her mother, Ione Dearuda, is a teacher, and her younger brother and sister are students. Her father is a construction worker.

Lourenco is interested in pursuing political science or law, considering law school as one pathway, but is also open to journalism or nonprofit work. Colleges and universities she is considering include Yale University, Cornell University, UMASS - Amherst, and Brown University. When she has a bit of time to relax, Lourenco enjoys watching stand-up comedy on YouTube, counting John Mulaney as one of her favorite comedians.

With this win Lourenco has been awarded her first bid toward participating in the National High School Tournament of Champions, a prestigious event that requires two bids for qualification.

Lourenco’s accomplishments at Bronx Science earned her praise from one of the most notable former Science Park debate team members, Superintendent León.

“As a proud alum of the same debate team, I am thrilled to congratulate Ashley Lourenco on her outstanding achievements. Her dedication, skill, and passion for debate are truly commendable, and securing her first bid toward the National High School Tournament of Champions is a monumental accomplishment,” said Superintendent León. “I know firsthand the hard work and perseverance it takes to excel at this level, and Ashley has shown incredible tenacity and talent throughout her journey. We are all incredibly proud of her and excited to see what she will achieve next. I want to thank Principal Gearhart and Mr. Alston for their dedication to keeping the strong legacy of the Science Park Debate program going strong.”

“I am immensely proud of Ashley Lourenco for accomplishing a rare first in the illustrious Science Park debate program, winning first place in the New York City Invitational Debate and Speech Tournament,” said Board of Education President Hasani K. Council. “Her achievement reflects not only her incredible talent and hard work but also the strength and dedication of our students here in Newark. On behalf of the Board of Education, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to her and look forward to witnessing even more milestones in her bright future.”

Alston told Lourenco that, when it comes to her debating future performance after last weekend’s win, her best is yet to come.

“You’re going to start debating at a different level,” Alston said. “Based on the way you’ve been debating and based on your history; you’re going to be one of the best debaters in the history of our program.”