VALDOSTA — Mayor John Gayle recognized Valdosta High School Junior Raja Sadarangani and Sophomore Marquis Grant at the June 11 City Council Meeting as the first students from VHS to qualify for the National Speech and Debate Tournament, being held in Dallas, Texas, this week through June 19.

As a team, they will compete against 117 other teams in the World Schools Debate event. The National Speech and Debate Tournament is the largest academic competition in the world, and the top 18 student debate winners in each main event will receive scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $15,000.

Team Coach Pam Childress, in her second year of coaching, said that qualifying this year was a pleasant surprise, particularly because the VHS Debate Team is only in its second season after a 15-year lapse in the club’s status.

City of Valdosta