Montfort Speech and Debate Team

                                                            History of Montfort Speech and Debate

Montfort Speech and Debate in many ways reflects the essence of The Montfort Academy.   We are the only Classical Catholic High School in the New York Archdiocese, deeply, proudly, truly Catholic, as we remain steadfast in our values, true to ourselves and our beliefs.

We are an award-winning team, with eleven of our students achieving trophies in the past season, top ten team finishes at NYCFL (New York Catholic Forensic League) competitions, competing against schools such as Regis, Iona Prep,  Bronx Science and Scarsdale High School, and the remarkable achievement of five of our students qualifying for The New York State Championships in a single competition for 2018.  Our students were  instrumental in helping our team join the prestigious NYCFL and this year they have been key players as we’ve expanded to National Competitions at The Princeton Invitational and The Columbia Invitational.   We have just had the remarkable achievement of having eight of our team members qualify for the upcoming Yale Invitational on September 14-16, 2018.

Astoundingly The Montfort Speech and Debate Team is a mere three years old,  begun by these very students, who worked tirelessly to create the team on their own and propel us forward to these stellar achievements.

                                                   Here’s What We’ve Accomplished  in the Past Three Years

*A group of interested students begin the Team in 2015

*Tanya Porcari and Colin Loughran begin NYCLF competition  Fall 2016, with others following shortly thereafter.

*Lauren Sweeney is the first Team Member to break to finals, Spring 2017

*A dozen students are competing by Fall 2017

*Montfort has a top ten team point  finish at NYCFL Competition at Regis

*Five Students elevate to National Competition with The Princeton Invitational 2017

*Eleven students compete at The Columbia Invitational,  January 2018

*Eleven team members achieve awards throughout the 2017-2018 Season

*Two students, Makayla Josiah and Thomas Curro break to finals and receive citations at NYCFL Grands Tournament

*Five Students qualify for The New York State Championships at Hofstra University, April, 2018                                                                           Where we are going in 2018-2019

We will be competing at upwards of a dozen competitions at both the local and national levels throughout the 2018-2019 season, beginning with the Yale Invitational on September 14-16. We have high hopes of sending students to the National Championships held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in June, 2019.                                                                                        Why We Are Fundraising

As a member of my school’s Speech and Debate team, I am given the opportunity to work with and compete against some of the most creative and talented minds in the National Catholic Forensic League. Joining this team has been one of the greatest and most fruitful experiences of my life, and I know that my team and I have a bright future ahead of us. But in order to keep that future bright, we need your help.

Nothing in life is free, and unfortunately Speech and Debate is no exception to that rule, hence why fundraising is necessary to keep our team running as smoothly as it has been these past few years. This fundraising will be used to pay for expenses such as transportation to various competitions ranging in location from our home base in New York to other states throughout the country, as well as for filming which will be necessary to advertise our team to potential new members. We will also need funding for various props and items used in competition, such as binders for our Oral Interpreters, and computers for Original Orators to write their speeches, and for our extempers to keep track of their copious amount of news articles.

This minuscule list of examples barely scratches the surface of the multitude of expenses that make fundraising so essential for the future of our team. We thrive not only because of our members, but because of our supporters and patrons who continue to aid us on our journey to unimaginable success in Speech and Debate.
— Makalya Josiah, Co-Captain, Montfort Speech and Debate 2018-2019

For more information on what we do in competition please see www.nycfl.org, www.speechanddebate.org
or email us at [email redacted]

                                                                                              Fundraising Levels
$1-10: Helping Hand

          Although it might not seem like much, everyone needs a helping hand now and again! We greatly appreciate anything you can can give.

$11-20: Giving Tree

         Just like the tree in the famous story, you will always be there for us and help with your selfless deeds!

$21-35: Good Samaritan

       Everyone knows the Scripture passage. Being a Good Samaritan has become synonymous with being kind to your neighbor. When you become a Good Samaritan to us, of course you will be doing a kind thing!

$36-50: Benefactor

      Of course you will be literally “doing good” as the Latin root of benefactor suggests when you donate!

$51-75: Patron

     Everyone needs a patron, and who would be better than YOU! If you are generous enough to become a patron of ours we will be forever grateful  for your guidance!

$76-100: Hero

    Everyone dreams of being someone else’s hero, and if you graciously donate your dreams can come true!

$100+: Angel

   Our humble team is forever grateful for your donations! Without help like this we would not be able to survive!The Montfort Speech and Debate Team, 2018-2019
Alessandra Carino, Thomas Curro, Co-Captains 
Kaitlyn Cucolo, Makayla Josiah, Assistant Captains
Amanda Muscente, Treasurer (Former Captain, 2017-2018)
Mrs. Cindy Frank, Faculty Advisor and Coach

To learn more about our school please check www.themontfortacademy.org