Members of the Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Forensics, Speech and Debate Club capped a successful fall semester with several students earning 2026 All-State Speech and Debate honors.
Seven ASMSA students earned All-State recognition in at least one event during Fall 2025 competitions and qualified for the Arkansas State Forensics and Debate Championship tournament that will be held in April. Events cover different styles of speech and debate. All-State recognition was recently announced by the Arkansas Communication and Theatre Arts Association (ACTAA).
Phoenix Dunkley, a senior from Little Rock, has qualified for three state tournament events — Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking and Impromptu Speaking. Dunkley earned the All-State qualifications at the Arkansas Student Congress, Bentonville Tigers Eye, Scary Thankful and Conway Classy Classic events.
Other ASMSA students who have qualified for at least one All-State competition, the qualifying event and the contest at which they qualified include:
• Clem Suttefield, a senior from Little Rock, Congressional Debate, Arkansas Student Congress;
• Judah Raimandi, a junior from Summit, Public Forum Debate, Conway Classy Classic;
• Kemdi Ekeanyanwu, a junior from Little Rock, Congressional Debate, Arkansas Student Congress and Bentonville Tigers Eye;
• Nora Medlock, a senior from Dyer, Congressional Debate, Arkansas Student Congress;
• Paris Goodman, a junior from Black Rock, Public Forum Debate, Conway Classy Classic; and
• Tristan Henson, a senior from Maumelle, Congressional Debate, Bentonville Tigers Eye.
ASMSA placed third overall as a team at the Conway Classy Classic Speech & Debate Tournament that was held at Conway High School in October. Students earned honors in individual events as well, including:
• Phoenix Dunkely, 1st place Impromptu Speaking and 1st place Extemporaneous Speaking;
• Tristan Henson, finalist Varsity Congressional Debate;
• Maddox Phillips, a sophomore from Hot Springs, 6th place Original Oratory;
• Bailey Bray, a senior from Greenbrier, second place Novice Lincoln; and
• Collin Green, a junior from Perryville, 6th place, K-Pop Song Lyric Interpretation.
In November, ACTAA held the 2025 Arkansas Student Congress, the oldest model legislative event in the state. In its 57th year, the event provides a unique opportunity for both high school students, who serve as the House of Representatives, and college students, who serve as the Senate, to simulate the representative democratic process at a statewide level. Students have the opportunity to participate in mock party caucuses, committees and floor debates over student written legislation. Two of the three days are held on the House and Senate floors in the State Capitol Building where students debate original student legislation.
Several ASMSA students earned recognition at the event, including:
• Isabel Gagnon, a junior from Salem, Seargeant at Arms;
• Outstanding Pages: Bailey Bray; Caleb Keeling, a senior from Arkadelphia; Paris Goodman; Collin Green; and Avi James, a sophomore from Bentonville;
• Caucus Awards (Superior): Phoenix Dunkley and Nora Medlock;
• Caucus Awards (Excellent): Clem Sutterfield;
• Committee Awards (Excellent): Phoenix Dunkley, Nora Medlock, Clem Sutterfield and Tia Petrie, a sophomore from Hot Springs Village;
• Committee Awards (Superior): Kemdi Ekeanyanwu;
• Floor Awards (Excellent): Clem Sutterfield and Nora Medlock;
• Floor Awards (Superior): Phoenix Dunkley and Kemdi Ekeanyanwu; and
• Parli Pro (Excellent): Phoenix Dunkley.