For the first time since 2006, Hastings High has a debater that has reached the prestigious Superior Distinction level. Senior Christine Jonglertham achieved this feat by accumulating over 750 points over the course of her speech and debate career; she currently has 769 points.
These points can only be obtained by going to speech/debate tournaments or giving speeches in public, meaning Jonglertham has been to a notably high number of tournaments throughout her four years of participation and has done well at them.
“It has been one of my goals to earn the highest degree I can, so I’m happy to have reached this far during the senior year,” Jonglertham said.
This degree has only been reached by 11 other Hastings High students; all of them graduated before Delta Fajardo, the current head coach of the debate team, started coaching varsity-level debaters. Jonglertham attributes her recent accomplishment to Fajardo as she has taught her many valuable skills that she used in tournaments and will continue in her future.
“Understanding how to properly research and understand arguments has made me more open-minded. I’ve picked up skills that I don’t think I could have learned in other classes or activities, and I know I’ll use these same skills in college and beyond,” Jonglertham said.
Of the 247 debaters Fajardo has taught, she is the first one to reach this level. Fajardo is very proud of Jonglertham and explains how she went above and beyond most students to get where she is now.
“She’s pretty motivated and wants to do everything really in-depth. She would go out of her way to look for new arguments and email me and text me for new ideas. That’s just her. I rarely get a student like that,” Fajardo said.
After all of her hard work, this achievement has qualified Jonglertham for a highly sought after award called the Academic All-American Recipient Award.
Fajardo hopes that younger members on the Hastings High debate team will also benefit from seeing where hard work can take them.
“I’m hoping it gives us a renewed view of what they can do,” Fajardo said.
Although Jonglertham’s high school speech and debate career is nearing an end, she may not be finished debating. She doesn’t know what college she is going to yet, but if they do offer debate, then she’ll be sure to do it. Either way, Jonglertham is extremely grateful that she joined debate and stuck with it.
“I’m so glad to have done debate because I’ve met many debaters across the state and here in Hastings that have made debating for four years worthwhile,” Jonglertham said.
