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Students Place in Top 3 at State Speech and Debate Championships
Nickolas Bartel and Michelle DoNorth Hills High School senior Michelle Do and junior Nickolas Bartel finished in the Top 3 out of more than 500 students representing 100 schools at the Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Tournament in March.

Michelle claimed second-place in the Poetry Interpretation event, and Nickolas placed third in Congressional Debate event. These honors represent the first time a North Hills student has competed in the final round at a speech and debate state championship event in more than a decade.

Both students advanced to the state championship with top finishes at the district event. At the district event, Michelle won first place and was named district champion in the Poetry Interpretation event, and Nickolas won third place in the Congressional Debate event. 

The Speech and Debate Club was reformed last school year at the high school. The club seeks to develop students’ skills in conducting effective research as they learn to craft logical, fluid and well-constructed arguments, expand their knowledge of topics not commonly discussed in their everyday lives and encourage critical analysis of topics in our world.

The club is overseen by secondary teacher and sponsor Dawn Zahorchak and assistant coach Patrick Dickey.