Three Parker School Debaters Qualify for National Tournament

Three members of the Parker School debate team qualified earlier this month for a national forensic tournament.

Jaren Ashcroft, Carrie Hiller and Luke Potter each earned a second-place finish at the State Forensic Championship held April 10-12 at Iolani School on Oahu.

The trio will travel to Overland Park, Kansas for the National Forensic League National Tournament to be held June 15-20.

The Parker School team, the defending state titlists, finished third in the state competition, behind winner Punahou and runner-up Iolani.

Although it had to relinquish the trophy it won last year, Parker’s contingent to the upcoming nationals is its largest ever, school officials said.

The Waimea school’s success in debate in recent years prompted an anonymous donor to fund two $12,500 scholarships for graduates from its debate team. The recipients for the next school year will be named in late May.