Hawken Speech & Debate

Speech and Debate is Hawken’s largest extracurricular activity. Founded over 40 years ago by Dr. Larry H. Banks, the team has built an impressive list of results, including multiple state champions, four team state championships in 2014, 2016, 2021, and 2024, two national championships in 2014, and is a five-time recipient of the National Speech and Debate Association Debate School of Excellence Award. In 2024, the Hawken Speech and Debate Team won the School of Outstanding Distinction Award as one of the top ten schools in the nation at the NSDA National tournament. Every season, the team travels around the country to debate at the country’s most prestigious tournaments, such as Harvard, Emory, National Speech and Debate Tournament, and the University of Kentucky’s Tournament of Champions. Currently coached by Bob Shurtz, Susan McGraw, Rachel Warneke, Kate Mozynski, Lynn Beeson, Melinda Dus, and Eva Lamberson, the Speech and Debate team is without a doubt one of Hawken’s most celebrated signature programs.