The International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC) is hosted annually by a member school (in 2022 here at Deerfield). Crofton House School in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada hosted this year’s IISPSC from October 19 – 22. Fifty-one schools from across the English-speaking world—from as far away as India—sent their best to compete in a multi-event tournament. Students select three of nine public speaking or debating events; the objective is to earn as many points as possible for your team and advance to the championship round individually.
Since the inaugural IISPSC in 1982, only a couple American schools have won top overall team and individual speaker. But this year, Deerfield’s team did it! To name just a few of their many accomplishments, Justin ’24, Edie ’25, Lily ’25, and Billy ’25, and Alice ’24 outscored all the competition for a remarkable first-place team finish, earning the coveted Ross Lambert Cup; Justin outscored 172 competitors to win the Selwyn House Cup for top individual speaker (he was also the leading point scorer in both cross-examination debate and extemporaneous speaking). Justin also qualified to join the US National Team at the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Canberra, Australia this spring. Billy came out on top in parliamentary debating, earning the championship in the final round; Lily took second place in dramatic interpretation. A great deal of preparation went into their work this weekend, and their accomplishment is truly historic.