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Student Success Stories

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Arjun S.

Harvard Law Class of 2030

Rice university Class of 2026

Seven Lakes High School class of 2022

Competes in Public Forum Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2018

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Awards: ​

  • Ranking 2nd in the nation in Public Forum Debate

  • Ranked 12th in the nation (as a junior)

  • 12 Tournament of Champions (TOC) Bids

  • Two Time TFA State Qualifier (as a sophomore and junior)

  • Qualified to the Tournament of Champions (as a junior)

  • Champion of the Presentation Round Robin out of the 8 teams selected nationally

  • 5th place at the Emory National Tournament (as a junior)

  • Co-champion of the Grapevine Classic (as a senior)

  • 10th place at the Princeton National Tournament (as a junior)

Kylan Chen

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Baylor College of Medicine Houston Class of 2028

Graduated from UT Class of 2024 -  Bachelors of Science in Public Health 

Graduated from KSDA in 2016

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Awards: ​

  • Coached for KSDA​​

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Vivienne L.

Full time offer with investment banking firm in NY after 2nd year in college

University of Houston Class of 2027 -finance Honors Program at C.T. Bauer College of Business

Taylor High School class of 2023, President of debate team junior and senior 

Competes in Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, and Extemporaneous Speaking

Graduated from KSDA in 2019

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Awards: 

  • ​National qualifier Domestic Extemp
    3 time State qualifier in Domestic Extemp 

  • 4 time State qualifier in Informative Speaking 

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Jason S.

Brown University class of 2027

Hotchkiss School class of 2023

Competes in Parliamentary Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2019

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Awards: 

  • 11th place Overall Speaker at International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition-2022

  • Top Advanced Team at St. Sebastian's DANEIS Parliamentary Debate Tournament -2022

  • Third Place Overall Speaker at Northfield Mount Hermon DANEIS Public Speaking Tournament -2022

  • Runner-Up Advanced Team at Roxbury Latin DANEIS Parliamentary Debate Tournament -2022

  • Runner-Up Advanced Team at Deerfield DANEIS Parliamentary Debate Tournament -2021

  • Honorable Mention in Yale Model UN Conference -2020

  • Top Novice Speaker at the Annual Hotchkiss DANEIS Parliamentary Debate Tournament -2020

  • Top Novice Speaker at the Annual St. Sebastian's DANEIS Parliamentary Debate Tournament -2019​​

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Michael W.

Rice University class of 2027

Seven Lakes High School class of 2023

Competes in Public Forum Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2019

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Awards: 

  • 13 Tournament of Champions Bids

  • 2 Time TOC Qualifier

  • 2 Time TFA State Qualifier

  • 2 Time Qualifier to the NSDA National Tournament

  • Ranked as high as 9th in the state of Texas and 17th in the nation for PF

  • Champion of the Plano West National Tournament

  • Semi-finalist at the Grapevine National Tournament

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Chris L.

UC San Diego class of 2027

Seven Lakes High School class of 2023

Competes in Lincoln Douglass Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2019

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Awards: 

  • 2 Time TFA State Qualifier

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Ethan L.

UT Austin Class of 2027

Seven Lakes High School Class of 2023

Competes in Public Forum Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2019
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Awards: 

  • 13 Tournament of Champions (TOC) Bids

  • 3 Time TFA State Qualifier 

  • 2 Time Qualifier to the NSDA National Tournament (as a sophomore and junior)

  • 2 Time Qualifier to the Tournament of Champions (as a sophomore and junior)

  • Ranked as high as 9th in Texas and 17th in the nation in PF (as junior)

  • Top Speaker and Champion at the Plano West National Tournament (as a junior)

  • 4th best speaker at the Stanford National Tournament (as a sophomore)

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Arnav M.

UT Austin Class of 2028

Seven Lakes High School class of 2024

Competes in Public Forum Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2019
 

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Awards: 

  • 5 Tournament of Champions (TOC) bids

  • 2 time TFA State Qualifier 

  • Qualifier to the Tournament of Champions

  • Champion of the University of Houston Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • Champion of Alta National Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • 9th speaker at the Bronx National Tournament

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Parth N.

Harvard Class of 2027 
Seven Lakes High School class of 2023

Competes in Congressional Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2020

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Awards: 

  • Two Time TFA State Qualifier (as a freshman and sophomore)

  • 1st Place at the Jersey Village Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • 3rd Place at the Spartan Ram Fall Classic (as a sophomore)

  • 9th Place at the Churchill TOC Bid Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • 7th Place at the Stratford Tournament (as a sophomore)

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Charlie Y.

University of Pennsylvania class of 2029​

Kinkaid School class of 2025

Competes in Public Forum

Graduated from KSDA in 2021

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Since starting high school, Charlie has competed in Public Forum debate at the local and national levels. At the local level, he’s reached the semifinals at various tournaments, including Elkins, Tompkins, and Seven Lakes, while advancing to the finals at Space City and Alief. He has also found success at the national level. This year, out of hundreds of teams from around the country, he advanced to the triple octofinal round (top 64) at the Stanford Debate Tournament, double octofinals (top 32) at the Grapevine, Berkeley, and Florida Blue Key Tournaments, and reached octofinals (top 16) at the Arizona State University Tournament. In addition, he qualified for and reached the octofinals of the TFA (Texas Forensics Association) State Tournament, and he qualified for the TOC (Tournament of Champions) and the NSDA (National Speech and Debate Association) National Speech and Debate Tournament, both prestigious and competitive tournaments.​​

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Natalie P.

UT Austin Class of 2027

Seven Lakes High School Class of 2023, President of debate team

Competes in Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking

Graduated from KSDA in 2019

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Awards: 

  • 16 Tournament of Champions (TOC) Bids in Congress

  • Semi-Finals at the 2021 NSDA National Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • 7th Place in the Yale University Invitational (as a sophomore)

  • Finals at the Emory National Tournament (as a junior)

  • 7 Time TFA State Qualifier 

  • 8th Place in International Extemp at the TFA State Tournament (as a sophomore)

  • Semi-Finals at the TFA State Tournament in Congress and International Extemp (as a sophomore and junior)

  • Invited to the 2022 Harvard University Round Robin (as a junior)

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Ryder T.

Northwestern Univerniversity  class of 2029​

Kinkaid School class of 2025

Competes in Public Forum

Graduated from KSDA in 2021

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Vishal S.

MIT class of 2029

Seven Lakes High School class of 2025

Competes in Lincoln Douglas 

Graduated from KSDA 

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Awards: 

  • 3 time state qual in Lincoln Douglas 

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Jaylon M.

University of Pennsylvania class of 2029

Tompkins High School class of 2023

Competes in Varsity Extemporaneous Speaking

Graduated from KSDA in 2021
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Awards: 

  • 1st Place at the Stanford National Invitational in Novice Extemp (in 8th grade)

  • All Awards below are from his freshman year of HS:

  • 2 Tournament of Champions (TOC) Bids

  • Two Time Qualifier for the TFA State Tournament 

  • 1st Place in the Katy Taylor TOC Tournament 

  • 1st Place in the Spartan Ram Classic 

  • 2nd Place in the Clear Falls Knight Tournament 

  • 4th Place at the Jersey Village Falcon Freeze

  • 5th place at the Alief Elsik Early College Ram Knight Swing

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Jason Z.

University of Chicago class of 2029

Competes in Public Forum Debate 

Graduated from KSDA in 2021
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​Jason Zhang has debated for 4 years for The Kinkaid School where he served as the co-captain of his debate team. During his career, he has amassed 11 bids to the TOC, making him a 3-time TOC qualifier. Noticeably, he has also co-championed Katy Taylor, semi-finaled the Cal Round Robin and Minneapple (2x), and quartered TFA state and Lexington. He has also top-spoked Blue Key, second-spoke Lexington, and garnered speaker awards from many other national tournaments.

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David L.

University of Texas Class of 2029 as a Dean's Scholar and a Turing Scholar 

Competes in Public Forum Debate

Graduated from KSDA in 2021​

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Awards: 

  • Qualified to the TFA State Tournament (as a freshman

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Elise Z.

Graduated from KSDA in 2021

Competes in PF, Prose, Informative Speaking, Declamation, Extemporaneous Speaking, and Impromptu

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Elise joined KSDA in the fall semester of 7th grade. She was enrolled in both speech and debate classes and quickly excelled and took top places at national level tournaments. Elise's dad said, "I have seen significant passion and growth since Elise joined your academy in January!" Elise finds KSDA coaches to be excellent, passionate and encouraging in aiding Elise to reach her goals. Mrs. Luu recognized Elise's talent in art and asked her to head the publications team. The coaching team were all instrumental in helping her become quickly competitive as well as ease her nerves and guiding her to become a better speaker. In just one year, she has learned PF, Congress, Prose, Poetry, Informative, Declamation, Extemp, and Impromptu.

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Awards: 

  • 5th place in Oral Interpretation at the 2021 Middle School Tournament of Champions (TOC) at UK

  • 3rd place in Oral Interpretation and 3rd place in Declamation at 2021 Pre-nationals Middle School Tournament

  • 2nd place in Congressional Debate at 2022 NSDA Springboard Scrimmage 18

  • Accepted in Phillips Andover, Choate Rosemary Hall, and Loomis Chaffee; incoming third former

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Andy C.

Graduated from KSDA in 2021
Competes in Public Forum Debate

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Awards: 

  • Qualified to the TFA State Tournament (as a freshman)

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Naresh S. 

Competes in Congress and FX at Seven Lakes High School

2 year student 
​Graduated from KSDA in 2021

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Awards: 

  • 2 time TOC qualifier 

  • 2 time TFA State Qualifier In Congressional Debate 

  • State semifinalist In Congressional Debate

  • TFA state qualifier in Foreign Extemporaneous Speaking 

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