Record 16 Students Earn Academic All American Honors
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A record-breaking 16 members of the Upper St. Clair High School Speech & Debate Team have been named Academic All Americans by the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).
This coveted award recognizes students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement, competitive success and exemplary character.
“From more than 141,000 student members of the National Speech & Debate Association, fewer than 1% of students earn the Academic All American award every year,” J. Scott Wunn, NSDA executive director, said. “This tremendous accomplishment places your students among the top one-percent of all student members across the country.”
To qualify for the Academic All American award, students must earn the NSDA’s Degree of Superior Distinction (750 points), maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher, complete at least five semesters of high school, and exhibit outstanding character and leadership.
The following USCHS Speech & Debate Team members were honored:
Class of 2025 Graduates
- Josh Anand
- Alison Hanna
- Harshvardhan Mali
- Opal Miller
- Roshan Mishra
- Krishna Sathya Vagheeswar
- Thomas Slowey
- Shreya Sriram
Rising Seniors
- Mana Barimani
- Anoushka Barve
- Prachi Chetlur
- Arth Italiya
- Pritika Gupta
- Medha Misra
- Vincent Watson
- Hansika Yanamadala
“These students have shown tremendous dedication both inside and outside the classroom,” said Ben Edwards, social studies teacher and coach of the Speech & Debate team. “Their commitment to excellence is truly commendable.”
Open to students in grades 9-12, the USCHS Speech & Debate Team meets weekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:50-4:30 p.m. Practices begin in early September with the team’s first meeting of the new school year. The competition season kicks off in late October and runs through February.
Last spring, the team secured its sixth state title at the 2025 Pennsylvania High School Speech and Language (PHSSL) State Championships, further cementing its legacy as one of Pennsylvania’s premier programs.
For more information about Speech & Debate, please contact Mr. Edwards at bedwards@uscsd.k12.pa.us.
- USCHS