Roosevelt, Andersen United Teams Excel at Spanish Debate Championship

North St. Paul debaters pose at Kate’s Tree on Augsburg University’s campus. | Photo credit for this article: Marina Que Photography
Our Spanish Debate League Championship Tournaments were in-person for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic this spring! Thank you so much to the students and coaches who shared their passion, energy, and focus with us to create a great season.
In our Spanish Debate program, students debate a topic with multiple interesting angles for advocacy that is chosen by coaches and program alums. This year, the topic was about Puerto Rico Statehood. From our standard switch-side debates to the new Discussion division, you brought forward so many intelligent and engaging arguments… completely in Spanish!

Just a few of our dedicated judges!
The Spanish Debate League is designed to be a program where students speak fully in Spanish, from practices to tournaments. It is only made possible with the support of our judges. Thank you so much for our Spanish Debate League judges- many of whom are educators from the area- for helping our students learn!
We are also grateful to Augsburg University for hosting us, and to Shonna Fulford from Augsburg Admissions, who shared about Augsburg University’s scholarship opportunities.
We also want to send a special shout out to Ambar Cristina Hanson, Executive Director of the Mortenson Family Foundation, who shared a keynote address describing the value of education in her life. We are grateful to this foundation for supporting our work in Spanish Debate League, and to Ambar for sharing her time and wisdom with our students! Read the transcription of Ambar’s speech here.
Find the tournament results below.
HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIP
PRINCIPIANTE DIVISION
Team Awards:
CHAMPIONS: Yahir S. & Evelyn P. (Roosevelt HS)
2nd: Jose M. & Nicole M. & Norma R. (Patrick Henry HS)
3rd: Kuyllur C. & Laura S.(Roosevelt HS)
4th: Kevin P. & Scarlette R. & Sebastian C. (Patrick Henry HS)
5th: Carla R. & Lucy J. (Roosevelt HS)
Speaker Awards:
TOP SPEAKER: Yahir S. (Roosevelt HS)
2nd: Evelyn P. (Roosevelt HS)
3rd: Chelssea S. (Patrick Henry HS)
4th (tie): Kuyllur C. & Jose M.
6th: Nicole M. (Patrick Henry HS)
7th: Ehimy M. (Patrick Henry HS)
8th: Scarlett R. (Patrick Henry HS)
9th: Kevin P. (Patrick Henry HS)
10th: Mareli G.(Washburn HS)
AVANZADA DIVISION
Team Awards:
CHAMPIONS: Satyarani A. J. B. & Shiloh T. (Andersen United)
2nd: Victoria B. & Elodie C. (Highland Park)
3rd: Evelyn O. & Erick C. R. (Highland Park)
4th: Julia P.A. & Nora Y. (Andersen United)
5th: Anneke M. & Adler Y. (Roosevelt HS)
6th: Xitlaly R. & Sneyder G.A. (North St. Paul)
Speaker Awards:
TOP SPEAKER: Satyarani Angie J. B. (Andersen United)
2nd: Victoria B. (Highland Park)
3rd: Xitlaly R. (North St. Paul)
4th: Evelyn O. (Highland Park)
5th: Sydney M. (Roosevelt HS)
6th: Elodie C. (Highland Park)
7th: Moncerath P. (Roosevelt HS)
8th: Erick C. R. (Highland Park)
9th: Jose V. C. (Roosevelt HS)
10th: Sara C. (Roosevelt HS)
11th: Sneyder G. A. (North St. Paul)