Two Notre Dame Prep students advance far in National Catholic Forensic League event held in Milwaukee.
Notre Dame Prep was well-represented this past weekend at the 67th annual Grand National Catholic Forensic League in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Sophomore Amishi Mahajan and freshman Katie Schmidt joined more than 2,000 students from 504 schools, with 250 competitors in each of ten events during the two-day event. Both NDP participants competed in student congress for the first time at the Catholic nationals. Mahajan placed 17th and Schmidt ranked 15th in their respective chambers, but fell short of advancing to the semifinal round for day two.
According to LeAnne Schmidt, who teaches U.S. History and seventh-grade writing at the Notre Dame Middle School, Mahajan has competed in public forum and congressional debate locally for the past two years, as well as several other forensics events. As of the 2019/2020 school year, she will become the NDP team captain.
Katie Schmidt has competed in national tournaments in congressional debate since sixth grade and locally in congressional and forensics events. She leads Notre Dame Prep in National Forensics League honor society points, working toward the Academic All American goal that was reached by senior John Kenny in 2019, which at the time was an NDP first.
Coach LeAnne Schmidt served for the ninth consecutive year on the NCFL Student Congress national committee for the event and in the tabulation room for event coordination.
All participants are eagerly anticipating next year’s rematch in Chicago, Ill. The Grand National Tournament is held at a different site each year. NCFL Grand Nationals have been held in Omaha, Chicago, Milwaukee, Boston, Arlington VA, Pittsburgh, and New York City, at various venues, including colleges, universities, high schools, government buildings, and hotels.
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About Notre Dame
Notre Dame is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's lower and middle schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. Notre Dame is an International Baccalaureate "World School" and is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers. It is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org