Welcome new and returning members! My name is Hannah and I am so excited to serve as your debate team captain this year. In regards to my background, I have always had a passion for speaking and for public affairs. Throughout the last 7 years I have participated in Model Congress, Model UN, We The People, Virginia History Day, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Pro/Con Debate Challenge, Prepared Prompt Speaking, and Original Oratory. All of these experiences have provided me with unique opportunities to broaden my perspective and enhance my knowledge of the world around us. With that in mind, I truly believe that debate can be life-changing for us as students and thus intend to bring this mentality to our team! Outside of debate, I am also a part of the Leadership & International Relations Specialty Center and our Anything Goes Show Choir. If I’m not participating in any of those endeavors, you can find me spending time with my family, playing with my dogs, singing/playing music, or working at i9 Sports. All in all, I look forward to an incredible debate season with you all this year!

Email: hhgross120@gmail.com

Hi everyone! I’m Caroline Fredette and I am so excited to be serving as your Lincoln-Douglas Lead this year! I am a junior this year and I have competed in Lincoln-Douglas debate for three years. Outside of debate, I am a drama club officer, SURF mentor, and I compete in speech events. All in all, debate has really helped me throughout my high school career. Ever since I began debate, my writing and research skills have really started to shine. Also, I really enjoy doing debate because it gives me the opportunity to broaden my horizons and learn new things. I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for us!

Email: CRFredette@hotmail.com

Hi everyone I'm Zoë! I am our new Congress Captain and formerly served as our Director of Recruitment and Social Media. I am also President of the Political Awareness Club, play field hockey, and am involved in DECA. A fun fact about me is I speak Spanish!

My name is Ellie Bowman and this year I am serving as Public Forum Captain! This is my fourth year on the team and I am so excited for this year! Along with debate, I am in band, work at Mellow Mushroom, and love fashion.

Hi! I’m Ty Redmond and I’ll be serving as the Communications Manager this year. I’ve been competing in congressional debate for two years and I’m now entering my senior year. What I enjoy about debate is the opportunity it provides me to strengthen my critical thinking skills, discuss political topics that I’m interested in, and improve upon my ability to write. Aside from doing debate I also run track and cross country for James River. Outside of school and extracurricular activities, I love baking, riding bikes, and growing my playlist.

Email: tyredd19@gmail.com

Hi all! My name is Danielle, and I'm thrilled to be serving as our teams social media coordinator this year. The sense of family that this team has been able to create in its mere four years of existence is why I've returned every year since I joined my freshman year. Debate has been crucial in the development of my critical thinking skills that I now apply to so many different aspects of my life. It's also helped me find confidence in my voice and beliefs. If you're reading this in pursuit of a reason to join our team, this is it!!! Aside from debate, I'm involved in our school's girls tennis team, Key Club, SURF program, NHS, DECA, SCA, and senior class council. I also spend my time working at an ice cream shop, working out, and spending time with my friends. If you have any questions or want any more insight on being a member on our team, feel free to DM me on @jrhsdebate or my personal @danielleymin on Instagram!

Hi! My name is Jessica, and I'm one of the Directors of Recruitment and Retention for the Debate team! I love debate because it has helped me find my voice and leaves me feeling prepared to articulate myself and my views. When I'm not in debate, I love playing soccer, listening to music, and hanging out with my friends and family.

I am Lexi Gambardella and I am the co-lead for recruitment and retention this upcoming season. I am a senior this year, this is my fourth year doing Student Congress, and my fourth year on the debate team. I have competed at many local tournaments along with national circuit competitions over the years. One of my favorite things about debate is that it helps you excel in school, speaking to peers and adults, learning about current events, and learning how to build arguments that have a strong backing and that can actually be productive. In my free time I enjoy dancing at my dance studio, spending time with my friends and family, and playing with my dog!