Five Holy Trinity students were recognized by the National Speech and Debate Association as Academic All-Americans, an award given to students who demonstrate success in speech and debate contests as well as in the classroom.  The recognition is the most recent of several national and state honors given to the Holy Trinity Forensics Team in what has already been a very busy and successful year. 

“We have an exceptional senior class this year,” said Chris Mosmeyer, coach of the Holy Trinity team.  “It dawned on me the other day that we have just completed our twentieth year of competing in invitational speech and debate tournaments.  We started in October 2003 with a tournament in Bryan.  Since then, we have been very busy and very successful.”

The five students named by the NSDA as Academic All-Americans are Nicholas Boor, Zachary Boor, Isabelle Kuriger, Therese Mosmeyer, and Valerie Schwartz.  To earn the honor, a student must have accumulated at least 750 points (earned by competing in interscholastic speech and debate contests), have a grade point average of at least 3.7 on a 4.0 scale, have completed at least five semesters of high school, and demonstrate outstanding character and leadership.

Three of the Academic All-American students have also earned the NSDA’s top degree, a rare accomplishment.  The National Speech and Debate Association states that “fewer than 3 percent of all NSDA members earn the Degree of Premier Distinction.”

Students earn points by competing in interscholastic speech and debate contests. Those points accumulate, earning degrees. 

Senior Therese Mosmeyer topped 1,500 points in June after competing in the national tournament in Phoenix, Arizona.  Her teammate and Duo partner Isabelle Kuriger crossed the 1,500 mark on October 14 after competing in a tournament at Melissa High School.  Senior Nicholas Boor earned his Degree of Premier Distinction at Centerville High School on October 21.

“It's not super-unusual for us to have at least one student with the Degree of Premier Distinction, but it is unusual for us to have three on the team earn it so close together,” Mr. Mosmeyer said. “I expect us to have at least one more by the end of the year.  Nick’s brother, Zack, is less than 200 points away.”

In the last twenty years—prior to the most recent awards, the team had 15 NSDA Academic All-Americans and 15 students who had earned the Degree of Premier Distinction.  

“That we have five new Academic All-Americans and three students with Premier Distinction—that really tells you what kind of a team we have right now.  They are a very talented bunch,” Mr. Mosmeyer said.

Mr. Mosmeyer himself also recently received recognition from the NSDA.  In early October, he was presented with a “Don Crabtree Distinguished Service Award” for his service to the speech and debate community.  Coaches are recognized for various things including hosting invitational tournaments, serving on committees, and being a resource to other coaches.  Mr. Mosmeyer is currently the chair of the Yellow Rose District of the NSDA and hosts four or five invitational tournaments each year.  He also serves on the LD Debate Committee for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).