School District of Niagara

Forensics

The Wisconsin High School Forensic Association sponsors middle and high school interscholastic events in speech, debate and theatre in the state of Wisconsin. This year, over 8,000 Wisconsin high school students began the exciting journey through the forensic season. Each student engages in a total of six competitive rounds of speaking at the sub-district and district levels with the hope of gaining enough points to participate at state. The University of Wisconsin-Madison campus has hosted this event since 1889, making this association the oldest of its kind in the United States.

Niagara High School boasts one of the largest public speaking teams in Wisconsin. Approximately, one in four students at Niagara High School participates in competitive public speaking. Each year, the team roster is filled to WHSFA registration capacity and the remaining students are often asked to participate the following year.

NHS has had a long-standing tradition of producing large, successful teams that rival high schools with student body populations more than ten times their size. The popularity of this program is a direct result of a small school atmosphere that allows and encourages students to engage in activities outside of their comfort realm. We are so fortunate to have a program that emphasizes the importance of public speaking. The competitive nature of the program helps students to refine their communication skills and these skills will serve them well in future endeavors.

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2024 District 2E Competition

The Niagara High School public-speaking team recently competed in the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association –District 2E competition with the team advancing to the WISDAA State Meet on April 19th at the University of Wisconsin- Madison.

The WISDAA was founded in 1895, making it the oldest secondary-school speech organization in the country. This organization provides an opportunity for students to enhance communication skills through participation in speech competitions. From February through mid-April approximately 3,600 students participate in sixteen different speaking categories—ranging from original speeches to performance literature.

NHS continues to generate substantial participation by students in this extra-curricular activity. The team is one of the largest in Wisconsin with approximately 40% of the Niagara High School student body participating in competitive public speaking. This is an incredible involvement rate, as the Wisconsin Interscholastic Speech and Dramatic Arts Association recently stated that it has lost over 1,800 students since 2021.

According to a WISDAA representative, “In a world built on ideas, the persuaders—the ones who can win hearts and change minds—have a competitive edge. Speaking skills give our students a professional advantage over their contemporaries.”

The team members and their advisor (Ginger Anderson) would like to thank the school board and administration for supporting a program that emphasizes the importance of public speaking.

Left to Right (1st Row-Sitting): Davie Wren, Emma Brasure, Mary Walenski, Abigail Rugg, Addison Wheeler, Justine Geldmeyer, Annika Sweig, Elesia Sweig, Brooke Bruemmer, Brooke Walters, Jaylynn Kichura, and Bella Ochs
Left to Right (2nd Row- Standing): Emma Kowalkowski, Ina Holt, Mallory Sanicki, Sienna LaRock, Bristol Sanicki, Lexi Johnston, Sydney Swanson, Lexi Champagne, Mea Anderson, Emma Boverhuis, Annalee White, Abain Patterson, Owen Dunkes, Gavin Neuens, and Alex Tripp
Left to Right (3rd Row- Standing): Reid Schroeder, Zach Schroeder, Emily Kay, Cody Bath, Alivia Kleikamp, Rachael Walker, Marley Jones, Mason Holmes, Parker DeCremer, Christian Anderson, Nate Olsen, Brayden Bartels, Christian Hedmark, Dante Stachowicz, Cameron Schiefelbein, Mason Richtig, Noah Wheeler, and Tommy Martin
Not Pictured: Aengus Patterson