Lacordaire Academy hosts, earns accolades at Forensics League competition

Lacordaire Academy recently hosted the first in-person Forensics League public speaking competition after two years of virtual meets.

All six members of Lacordaire’s team made the final round, a first in the league's 20-year history.

At the Dec. 6 competition, eighth grader and team captain Kiera Kwiatkowski, seventh grader Lily Yezdanian and sixth grader Joshua Chiaravalloti received honorable mentions.

Sixth grader Nick Brown, captain and seventh grader Thomas Gagliano and sixth grader Zoe Bevilacqua won first, second and third place respectively, supported by their alternates, seventh grader Alexa Whitworth and sixth grader Charlene Jbeili.

“Our Lacordaire community is extremely proud and grateful to the dedication, hard work and the tremendous time sacrifice of these talented individuals,” Head of Lower and Middle School and Associate Head of School for Lacordaire Academy Suzanne Bilicska said in an announcement from the school. “We also thank their moderator and Forensic League president, Ms. Brittany McFarlane, and team coaches Mrs. Mary Thornton and Mrs. Anne Utley.”

The students presented on topics of climate change, body image, embracing interactions with new people, the importance of inclusivity, the value of persevering in the face of adversity and setting more stringent guidelines to prevent concussions in professional football.