OHS Speech and Debate Coach Shines Bright Like a Diamond

The saying goes, “True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare”, however, Oxford High School (OHS) speech and debate students who call Dr. Barbara Lowe their mentor and teacher would say that she falls in this precious jewel category, too.

Lowe is the most recent winner of the National Speech & Debate Association’s Diamond Coach Award, a national distinction that she earned through team participation, student achievement, public service and leadership work.

Lowe is the OHS Speech and Debate Team Coach and also teaches debate, oral communications, and Dual Enrollment/English at the high school. To earn a diamond award, a coach must be a member of the National Speech & Debate Association for at least five years.

According to the National Speech & Debate Association, “Because of coaches like Dr. Lowe, thousands of students have access to the life-changing benefits of speech and debate.”

OHS Principal Bradley Roberson echoed the professional organization’s statement: “Dr. Lowe is passionate about the teaching profession, the debate content, and most importantly, her students. That is what makes her an outstanding educator. We are fortunate to have her as a part of the Oxford High School family.”

Through the National Speech & Debate Association, coaches earn additional diamond levels the more points they receive in the honor society. A coach who attains 1,500 points is awarded a first diamond; they receive a second diamond for 3,000 points, a third for 6,000 points, and so on. Five years must pass between each diamond award.

Lowe will be recognized at the world’s largest academic competition, the National Speech & Debate Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah, on June 15, 2016. More than 7,000 students, coaches and parents from across the nation attend the national tournament every year.

The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society has been recognizing student and coach achievements in speech and debate since 1925. The prestigious diamond award recognizes a professional career that combines excellence and longevity in speech and debate.

For more information about the National Speech & Debate Association, visit SpeechandDebate.org. Visit Oxfordsd.org/OHS for information on Oxford High School.

About the National Speech & Debate Association:

The National Speech & Debate Association is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization serving middle school, high school, and collegiate students in the United States. The association provides competitive speech and debate activities, high-quality resources, comprehensive training, scholarship opportunities, and advanced recognition to more than 150,000 students and coaches every year. For 90 years, the National Speech & Debate Association has empowered more than 1.5 million members to become engaged citizens, skilled professionals, and honorable leaders in our society. For more information, visit SpeechandDebate.org.

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