The National Speech & Debate Association is proud to announce Plymouth High School’s Dave McKenzie as one of the most recent winners of the Diamond Coach Award! McKenzie was one of twenty-four speech and debate coaches across the nation to have earned this prestigious award in the National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society. Because of these coaches, thousands of students have access to the life changing benefits of speech and debate.
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. Congratulations to the following outstanding coaches:
David McKenzie is receiving his 6th diamond award this year.
Coaches earn distinction in the national honorary through team participation, student achievement, public service, and leadership work. To earn a diamond award, a coach must be a member of the National Speech & Debate Association for at least five years. 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.
These coaches will be recognized at the world’s largest academic competition, the National Speech & Debate Tournament, in Birmingham Alabama this June. More than 7,000 students, coaches, and parents from across the nation attend the National Tournament every year.
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 www.speechanddebate.org.
