[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 30 (Monday, February 25, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E227]]
          CONGRATULATING LOYOLA SACRED HEART SPEECH AND DEBATE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DENNIS R. REHBERG

                               of montana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, February 25, 2008

  Mr. REHBERG. Madam Speaker, today I rise to recognize the continued 
excellence of a speech and debate program in Montana that has won 25 
state championships in a row. With this quarter-century milestone, the 
Loyola Sacred Heart High School speech and debate team is building on 
the longest streak of such state championships in United States 
history.
  Speech and debate is an activity that fosters valuable skills such as 
public speaking, bolstering confidence and poise, and critical thinking 
while showing an awareness of current events. Students compete in two 
debate events--team debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate--and seven 
individual public speaking events--extemporaneous speaking, impromptu 
speaking, original oratory, memorized public address, expository 
speaking, serious oral interpretation of literature, and humorous oral 
interpretation of literature. Team scores are accumulated by individual 
performances in each of these events, so just like this championship 
streak is made up of many teams, each team is made up of many talented 
students.
  This year's championship team included five individual state 
champions. Dan Evans won the state in Extemporaneous Speaking for an 
unprecedented third time. Nick Corn, Will Blair, Emily Mihalic and 
Emilie Loran also took home individual gold for Loyola. They are joined 
by the remainder of the team, Mike Tarbert, Kevin Conley, Katie Neher, 
Mary Callahan-Baumstark, Matt Eddy, Myles Dauterive, Dillon Linhart, 
Dan Cloninger, Nick Mihalic, Lyle Pocha, Laura Snook, Tricia Karsky, 
Erik Kappelman, Mike Evans, Mariah Rys-Sikora, Brooke Sauro, Kyle 
Doyle, Justin Dart, Dylan Hyland, Alex Hughes, Ashley Wegener, Ali 
Hege, Erich Dieziger, Erik Dale, Rachel Lee, Erik Loran, Shawnae 
Stanton, Griffin Woodall, Alex Ward and Matt Dollar. The team is 
coached by Head Coach Matt Stergios and Assistant Coaches Sarah 
Jennings, Stephanie Mansanti, Chuck Hansberry and Theresa Stergios.
  I am proud to recognize the achievements of this year's team, 
building on the shoulders of 24 championship teams before them.

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