Gilmour Speech & Debate Shines on the National Stage Gilmour's Speech & Debate team delivered another impressive performance at the National Speech & Debate Association’s national tournament in Richmond, Va. this June, where four students competed alongside more than 7,000 participants from more than 1,500 schools in the world's largest academic competition. Debate captain Thomas Daly ’27 made his second appearance at nationals and, after competing all year in Lincoln-Douglas, was selected to represent the Cleveland District on the World Schools Debate team. While the team competes as a group at nationals, individual team members are also awarded points based on their performances. Thomas earned a remarkable 21 st -place Speaker Award among 906 students competing on more than 200 multi-school debate teams. Congratulations also to Team President Matthew Lewis ’27 and Iulius Braho ’27 and Austin Zhu ’29 , who each finished in the top 30 percent of their respective events. Lewis qualified in Congressional Debate and, according to Coach Carol Ryan, has helped recruit nearly half of the current team. Braho, a U.S. Extemporaneous competitor during the regular season, represented Ohio in Extemporaneous Commentary, an event unique to the national tournament. Zhu competed in Expository, another nationals-only event, after spending the season in Original Oratory. With all four national competitors returning this season, Gilmour is well positioned to build on another exceptional year. Coach Ryan also hopes the community will come out to support the team at the 2027 Ohio Speech & Debate State Tournament, which will be held March 6 at Medina High School.
A Heart for Helping When Ava Schimmelpfennig ’30 set out to support the American Heart Association this spring, she hoped to raise $ 15,000. Instead, the 13-year-old raised $ 31,225, the highest fundraising total in the Cleveland area, earning recognition as the American Heart Association's 2026 Teen of Impact for the City of Cleveland. She was the youngest participant in the Cleveland campaign and one of only three 13-year-olds selected nationwide. The achievement was especially meaningful because the cause has been part of Ava's life for years. After her father was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2019, the family became involved with the American Heart Association through Heart Walks and other events. When she turned 13, the minimum age to participate in the Teen of Impact program, she jumped at the opportunity. Nominated by Middle School Director Erin Thayer, Ava committed herself to raising both funds and awareness for heart health.
She reached her original goal in just 30 days, then immediately doubled it.
There was no secret to her success. She simply kept asking. Emails, phone calls, handwritten notes, text messages. Every day she reached out to someone new, then followed up personally. People responded because they could see how much the mission mattered to her. As the campaign gained momentum, so did the support around her. Teachers stopped to ask how fundraising was going. Classmates cheered her on. Friends and family continued sharing her campaign long after making their own gifts. When the campaign ended, Ava had surpassed even her revised goal. A few days later, her parents and members of the American Heart Association surprised her with the news that she had raised more than any other Teen of Impact in the Cleveland area. She was later recognized at a celebration honoring this year's participants. Looking back, Ava says she's proud not only of the dollars raised, but of the conversations the campaign sparked about heart health. Her advice is refreshingly straightforward: "Even if I'm only 13, I can still achieve big things."
37
Gilmour | FALL 2026
Made with FlippingBook - Share PDF online