By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
Sitka High School is preparing to welcome dozens of students from across Southeast this weekend for the Region V drama, debate and forensics tournament.
Sitka High coach Christian Litten expects some 82 high school students – from Sitka, Mt. Edgecumbe, Ketchikan, Juneau (Thunder Mountain High), Haines, Skagway and Metlakatla – to compete in the Friday-Saturday event.
The final debate will be 5 p.m. Saturday in the Performing Arts Center. It will be open to the public, and streamed on YouTube. Judges for the final public forum debate are Jude Pate (Superior Court judge) and School District Superintendent Frank Hauser.
The debate topic is “Resolved: On balance, Turkey’s membership is beneficial to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.”
Also open to the public are command performances, and the announcement of top finishers in each event, following the final debate in the PAC. Coaches select competitors for command performances.
Volunteers will judge the events, which include informative and persuasive speaking, readers theater, solo and duet acting, duo interpretation, and dramatic interpretation. He is looking for a few more judges for the extemporaneous commentary event on Saturday but said he has had a good response to his request for judges from the community. Those wishing to volunteer can call Litten at 907-738-5869.
