Last Friday and Saturday eight Great Bend High School Speech students competed at the District National Qualifying Tournament at McPherson High School. Sara Allen, a junior, competed in Original Oration and Dramatic Interpretation and Malia Clark, a senior, competed in Dramatic Interpretation. Garrett Dykes competed in Duo Interpretation with Geoffrey Pafford and both are Freshman. Paffford and Dykes also competed in Humorous Interpretation and Dykes was a semi-finalist. Makinna Dykes, a Junior, was a semi-finalist in oration and was a finalist with her Informative speech and placed fifth. Lisa Marlow, a sophomore, competed in Dramatic Interpretation and Informative.  
The National Speech and Debate Association is a National Honor Society. Juniors, Ashtin Heath and Aaron Miller were recognized at the District Qualifying Tournament opening ceremony for reaching 1500 points and the Merit Level of Premier Distinction and received plaques for their accomplishments.  Heath, who competed at the National Tournament in Dallas last summer, made it to finals in both of her events, Original Oration and Dramatic Interpretation, placing 4th and first alternate in both events.  Aaron Miller made it to semi-finals in Humorous Interpretation and placed 3rd in Original Oration qualifying to the National Tournament in Salt Lake City, Utah June 12 thru the 17th.