Garden City High School debate coach, Russ Tidwell, has received a third Distinguished Service Award from the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) this week. He was also informed that he will receive his sixth National Speech and Debate Association Diamond Award as a coach.
The Distinguished Service Award recognizes debate coaches for running and helping run a tournament, serving the NSDA district, serving in the national tab room, teaching coaches, presenting on debate items, and dedicated coaching and growth for students.
A Diamond Award recognizes a professional career that combines excellence and longevity. The Association provides Diamond Awards based on coach points received. Coaches receive one point earned by their students and one point earned as a student member of the association. After a minimum of five years as a National Speech and Debate Association member, a coach who attains 1,500 points is awarded a first Diamond; he or she receives a second Diamond for 3,000 points, a third for 6,000 points, and so on. Five years must pass between each Diamond award.
Since the creation of the Association in 1925, there have been less than 100 coaches who have earned six Diamond awards. Tidwell will receive special recognition at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in June at Des Moines, Iowa.
Each year, the tournament draws more than 5,000 students, coaches, and parents from across the nation. The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has placed the tournament on the NASSP National Advisory List of Contests and Activities since the origination of the list.
About the National Speech and Debate Association
The National Speech & Debate Association is the authority on public speaking and debate in the United States. The Association builds the infrastructure for speech and debate competitions around the world by providing topics, educational resources, and training for students and coaches. For 100 years, the National Speech & Debate Association has built a platform for youth voices that culminates in the National Tournament, the largest academic competition in the world. For more information, visit www.speechanddebate.org