The Smithville Speech & Debate team is a proud member of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) and the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA). We believe that the skills learned in speech and debate—critical thinking, public speaking, and respectful dialogue—are essential for success in college and life.

Our program offers a wide range of events for students to explore their interests, from interpretive events like Humorous Interpretation and Original Oratory to rigorous debates like Policy Debate and Public Forum Debate. We compete in local, state, and national tournaments, challenging ourselves to grow and excel at every level.

Our practices are held after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Smithville High School. We encourage all students, from novices to varsity competitors, to join us and become a part of our community. For more information, please reach out to Coach Daugherty.

The Purpose of the Booster Club

Generally speaking, a booster club is a volunteer-led, nonprofit organization that supports a specific extracurricular activity. While a school's budget covers a program's basic needs, a booster club "boosts" it with additional support to help it thrive. Our booster club's primary purpose is to ensure that financial barriers never stand in the way of a student's success. Your support will directly help with:

• Fundraising: We will raise money to cover costs that aren't included in the school's budget, such as travel and lodging for national tournaments across the United States.
• Volunteer Support: The club will provide the assistance needed to help the program run smoothly, such as coordinating and organizing team events. This frees up coaches to focus on the students.
• Community Building: We will create a network of parents, alumni, and community members who share a passion for our program. This creates a supportive and enthusiastic environment for students, which is just as valuable as financial support. Additionally, we want to give Smithville, Missouri another reason to be excited about our amazing students.
• Program Promotion: The booster club will help raise our program's profile, promoting student achievements and encouraging new student participation.

We are building more than just a club; we are creating a network of parents, alumni, and community members dedicated to our students' success. Your time, skills, or financial contributions are all invaluable.