Glen Allen, Hermitage, Highland Springs and J.R. Tucker high schools are host sites for preliminary rounds
Deep Run High School student Shelly Purser recalls being involved in theater from an early age, but it took a little cajoling from friends for her to sign up for the school’s speech club as a freshman.
Now a senior, she finds herself a three-time qualifier for the National Speech and Debate Tournament who is busy preparing for this year’s event, which will take place in Henrico and across the Richmond region in June.
“Speech is many things,” Purser said at a news conference today. “It is performance, competition, art and community. It is telling a story with nothing but your voice and your body. It creates a community.”
Purser and fellow Deep Run students Isabella Paperman and Anna Weitzenhofer are among 16 students from eight schools across the region who have qualified for the 2026 National Speech and Debate Tournament, which is set for June 14-19 in venues throughout the area. The students were introduced at today’s news conference at Deep Run High School, joined by officials from The Richmond Forum, Richmond Region Tourism, Henrico and Chesterfield counties and the city of Richmond.
Board of Supervisors Vice Chair and Three Chopt District Supervisor Misty Roundtree noted the impact that her experiences on a high school debate team have had.
“My participation helped make me a confident speaker and a critical thinker,” Roundtree said. “I am proud that students in Henrico have access to that world, and I am humbled that Henrico can be a part of this momentous event.”
Henrico’s Glen Allen, Hermitage, Highland Springs and J.R. Tucker high schools are among the host sites for preliminary rounds of the tournament, which will culminate at the Altria Theater and Greater Richmond Convention Center.
More than 7,000 students from all 50 states will compete in categories such as Lincoln-Douglas debate, extemporaneous commentary, duo humorous interpretation and original spoken-word poetry. The event is expected to have an estimated economic impact of $22 million for the region.
This year marks the first time that Virginia has hosted the national tournament, noted Heather Crislip, executive director of The Richmond Forum, which spearheaded efforts with Richmond Region Tourism to bring the event to the region.
“The National Speech and Debate Tournament is one of the largest academic competitions in the world,” she said. “This is a historic moment for the region.”
Crislip issued a call for 1,000 volunteers to help support the event. Interested individuals can check www.richmondforum.org/2026 for information.
