Auburn School District No. 408
915 4th Street Northeast, Auburn, WA  98002

10/12/04

NEWS RELEASE
ARHS Debate Team Awarded National Forensic League's
Leading Chapter Award for Western Washington District

Auburn Riverside High School’s (ARHS) debate team has been awarded the National Forensic League’s (NFL) Leading Chapter Award for the Western Washington District.

This coveted award, based upon student participation, is the highest honor NFL can bestow upon a chapter.  Only one school in each district attains this honor yearly and must wait at least five years before being eligible for the award again.

This year, out of over 2700 NFL member schools nationwide, ARHS was one of the only 103 to receive the Leading Chapter Award.  The long hours of teaching, practice, tournaments, and fundraising are all part of the effort of successful debate programs.  ARHS’ award reflects 492 members and degrees over six years.  “In that time, several hundred students have been taught the vital life skills of communication, analysis, leadership, organization and fair play,” say NFL national secretary, J. Scott Wunn.

In January 2004, Mark Davis, Auburn Riverside High School chemistry teacher and debate coach, received special recognition for earning a diamond key award for his NFL key for his total hours of commitment to the school’s debate program. Mr. Davis has been a debate advisor since Auburn Riverside High School opened in 1995.

The National Forensic League is a non-partisan, not-for-profit educational honor society founded in 1925 by Bruno E. Jacob at Ripon College, Ripon, Wisconsin.  Its purpose is to encourage and motivate high school students to participate in and become proficient in the forensic arts; debate, public speaking, and interpretation.

For more information, contact Auburn Riverside High School principal, Bruce Phillips, at (253) 804-5154.