SENATE MEMORIAL 52

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2020

INTRODUCED BY

Jacob R. Candelaria

 

 

 

 

 

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE GOVERNOR TO DECLARE JUNE 14-19, 2020 "NATIONAL SPEECH AND DEBATE TOURNAMENT DAYS" IN NEW MEXICO.

 

     WHEREAS, on June 14-19, 2020, Albuquerque will host the world's largest academic competition for high school and middle school students, the national speech and debate tournament; and

     WHEREAS, the middle school national tournament will run concurrently with the high school tournament and will take place on June 16-19, 2020, also in Albuquerque; and

     WHEREAS, in conjunction with the tournament, Albuquerque will host the first-ever national Spanish language speech and debate competition; and

     WHEREAS, the tournament draws competitors from forty-eight states, five countries and two United States territories, with an estimated eleven-million-dollar ($11,000,000) impact to the local economy; and

     WHEREAS, ten thousand students, coaches and volunteers will visit Albuquerque during the tournament; and

     WHEREAS, the debates will be hosted by local schools, and the final events will be held at the Albuquerque convention center; and

     WHEREAS, the mission of the national speech and debate association is to connect, support and inspire a diverse community committed to empowering students through competitive speech and debate; and

     WHEREAS, to participate in the national speech and debate tournament, high school students must qualify at one of the association's district tournaments or through one of eight international qualifying programs; and

     WHEREAS, at the middle school tournament, students have the chance to compete, build their skills, meet other students from across the country, and, as it overlaps with the high school tournament, learn from watching the final high school rounds; and

     WHEREAS, the tournament is being hosted by the Albuquerque public school district, the city of Albuquerque and the local New Mexico speech and debate community;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the governor be requested to declare June 14-19, 2020 "National Speech and Debate Tournament Days" in New Mexico; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the executive director of the national speech and debate association.

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