Students from the Chicago Math and Science Academy Speech and Debate team traveled to Von Steuben High School to compete in a tournament hosted by Chicago Debates, and they returned with impressive results.
Competing in the Public Forum category, CMSA debaters earned both first and second place, an achievement known in the debate world as “closing out” a tournament. This milestone highlights the strength, preparation, and continued growth of the CMSA Speech and Debate program.
Public Forum debate emphasizes real-world issues in an accessible and engaging format. For this tournament, students tackled the timely topic: “Should AI be used in education?” Working in partnerships, debaters collaborated to research current issues, develop arguments, and present their cases before judges.
In the final round, the junior partnership of Lajoie Mandala and Zahara Uwera faced off against teammates Ayo Bakare (sophomore) and Mariam Kazi (freshman). After a strong and competitive round, Mandala and Uwera secured first place, while Bakare and Kazi finished second, making the finals an all-CMSA showdown.
Several CMSA students were also recognized with Speaking Honors, reflecting individual excellence in argumentation and delivery:
- Lajoie Mandala – 1st Place Speaker
- Aaliyah Abu – 3rd Place Speaker
- Gofran Abdalla – 4th Place Speaker
- Jaden Mosley – 5th Place Speaker
The team also celebrated a major milestone as several students competed in their first-ever debate tournament. Every CMSA competitor won at least one round, a testament to their preparation and teamwork.
A special thank you goes to Mr. Popko for ensuring the team arrived safely despite snowy conditions, and to Natalie Roots-Nowakowski, CMSA’s new assistant coach from Northwestern University, whose guidance and support played a key role in strengthening students’ debate skills.
Congratulations to the CMSA Speech and Debate team on an outstanding tournament performance. Their success reflects not only competitive excellence, but also the power of critical thinking and student voice—skills that extend far beyond the debate floor.
