Middleton High School’s Debate Club founder and former English teacher Thomas Aylesworth is returning to the club he founded in 1988 to inspire the next generation of debaters. He’ll speak with current and aspiring Debate Club members in Middleton High School’s North Library Media Center (LMC) from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. on April 16.
Aylesworth is now a partner and senior litigator at Marcus, Errico, Emmer & Brooks, P.C. in Boston. He will talk with students about his debate journey, which began as a student on Stevens Point Area High School’s debate team. He’ll discuss starting Middleton High School’s debate program before moving to Boston, where he’s been an attorney for more than 30 years.
He’ll also share the professional accomplishments of his high school debaters as well as the value of competitive debate for current and future debaters, both personally and professionally.
Aylesworth’s visit comes during a highly successful season for the Debate Club. Members are preparing to compete at two national tournaments in May and June.
Three teams of students will compete at the NCFL Nationals in Washington, D.C., from May 22 to May 24: Sai Kandukuri and Eric Huang, Ananya Subramanian and Audrey Kim, and Lauren Engbloom and Grace Kim.
In addition, two teams qualified for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Tournament in Richmond, Va., from June 14 to June 19: Eric Huang and Andy Wang, and Ananya Subramanian and Audrey Kim. A third team – Lauren Engbloom and Grace Kim – qualified as alternates in case one of the top two teams is unable to compete.
MCPASD thanks Aylesworth for inspiring and encouraging students, and wishes the debaters heading to national tournaments best of luck.