SALISBURY — Sacred Heart School’s Beta Club recently raised $351.17 for the Michael Childress “God’s Love in Action” Campaign by selling doughnuts and orange juice for breakfast before a recent morning assembly.
Childress is an alumnus from the Class of 2014 and has raised money for Rowan Helping Ministries all summer through his golfing.
He visited the school to explain his outreach project to students, who jumped right in to help. Childress is pictured with Beta Club members Caroline Cardelle, Shelbee Bryant, Michael Childress, Ella Trainor and Theresa Holland.
— Robin Fisher
CHARLOTTE — For the third year in a row, Charlotte Catholic High School hosted the Queen City Invitational Debate and Speech Tournament. More than 750 participants from 31 schools across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia attended the Oct. 22 tournament, which is a qualifying tournament for the National Catholic Forensic League National Tournament and for the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions.
“This is a major honor for a tournament that is only in its third year,” said Charlotte Catholic’s head coach, Mary Morales. “It’s also an added attraction for schools to choose our tournament. Our first tournament took place in 2014, and was attended by more than 400 participants. We are so proud that the Queen City Invitational has grown to become such a large and attractive tournament. We hope to attract more schools from more states each year.”
“Only novice members were allowed to compete in our tournament,” Morales noted. “It’s a practice that the varsity members of the host school do not compete, but instead help run the tournament.” Twenty-two novice members of the Debate and Speech Team competed, and the following were awarded the Queen City Invitational Cups:
- David Edwards: first place, Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate
- Andrew Shooman: third place, Novice Public Forum Debate
- Brandon Finley: third place, Novice Public Forum Debate
- AJ Sciacca: fifth place, Novice Public Forum Debate
- Matthew Sie: fifth place, Novice Public Forum Debate, in his first tournament
Team sweepstakes winners were:
- First place: Riverside High School of Greer, S.C.
- Second place: Ardrey Kell High School of Charlotte
- Third place: Southside High School of Greenville, S.C.
For the first time, a small team sweepstakes award was presented. The winner was Jefferson County High School of Dandridge, Tenn.
Volunteers including John McDonald, assistant tournament director, and Terri Taylor, tournament coordinator, helped Morales in organizing the Queen City Invitational Debate and Speech Tournament. The Tournament Planning Parent Committee was made up of Angie Schilly, Stefan Kelly, Mary Louise Gennett, Jen Ruff, Ann and Steve Sheridan, Megan McBride and Sara Ford.
Dr. Janice Ritter, diocesan superintendent of schools, and Principal Kurt Telford opened the tournament with a prayer and welcome remarks.
— Carolyn Tillman