R-26-151 Pasco High speech and debate team

21:47Okay, we're gonna go back to R S one. Um Of resolution by the Board of County Commissioners to recognize the Pasco High speech and debate team for all their accomplishments.

21:56Resolution number 26151. Whereas the Pasco High School Speech and Debate Team was established in September of 2024 under the leadership of head coach Mark Joseph Valdez, a cultural exchange teacher from the Philippines. And whereas originally formed as a non-competitive student interest group, the PHS speech and debate team quickly evolved. Driven by courage, determination, and a desire to provide meaningful

22:26comp competitive experience, the PHS speech and debate team began participating in regional tournaments within its very first year. And whereas, under the guidance of Mr. Baldez and Ms. D uh Deanna Backhelder, uh Training for the PHS speech and debate team includes legislative debate. Lincoln Douglas debate, extemporaneous debate. public forum debate, impromptu speaking, Original oratory,

22:58inform informative speaking, Uh Declamation and extemporaneous speaking. And whereas in its very first competition the team uh team made an immediate impact by earning multiple championships and top awards at the regional level. These early successes fuel the team's ambition and commitment, setting the tone for continued improvement and competitive excellence. And whereas the PHS Speech and Debate team continues to grow and

23:28thrive, consistently earning accolades at the regional, state, and national levels, the program has become a source of pride for the school and a testament to the students' hard work. discipline and passion for speech and debate. And whereas the PHS Speech and Debate team achieved a historic milestone at the National Civics and Debate Championship, where Senior Haley Grapel captured the title of national champion uh in extemporaneous

23:58debate. outperforming hundreds of competitors from across the United States. And whereas this most recent win was an extraordinary accomplishment that underscores the rapid rise and lasting impact of the PHS speech and debate team. And Hold on folks. If I get these right I'll be lucky, all right. And whereas the PHS speech and debate team consists of Kitty. An

24:29Anko? Esther Ayla Perez, Abby Bromley, Kendall Edge. Isaiah Feyher. Haley Grapel. David Lee. Madison Lobianco. Madison Love. Rachel Marie Williams. Paula Ann Williams, Addison Howard, Aidan Miller. Margaret Cannard. Maria Alvarez, Samantha Bazza, Casey Hughes, Jos

24:59Josanna Jarrett, Dayana Mayana Pas. Ryan K. Alexa Barnes. Mark Joseph Valdez as head coach and Dana Batchelder as assistant coach. Now, therefore, be it resolved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pasco County, Florida, that said board hereby recognizes the Pasco High School speech and debate team for all of their accomplishments. Done in resolved in regular session

25:29with a quorum president voting this tenth day of March 2026.

25:34Approval. Second.

25:35All in favor

25:36say aye. Aye. Aye. Aye. And would the team and the coaches please come on up to the podium? I should have invited you up there before. Sorry about that.

25:45So is something that started out just to be a trial and a thing turned into something just phenomenal. So coach, please.

25:53I am Mr. Valdez. I am the head coach of Pasco High School Speech and Debate team. And on behalf of Pasco High School, we extend our sincere thanks to Pasco County for this recognition and for highlighting the achievements of these students who work tirelessly to bring honor to the Pirate Nation and to our community. We we began what began with only a handful of students has grown into an award-winning team in our school. and district can truly be proud of. Since establishing the team in twenty twenty four These

26:24students have consistently shown that Pasco is not only a place to excel in athletics, but also a place where academic and extracurricular excellence thrive. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone here, to our county commissioners. um to our community leaders. To our principal Mr. Feldman, to my assistant coach, Ms. Bachelor, to all the parents and volunteers. for helping us in our Saturday tournaments and to everyone who in one way

26:54or another helped us in our journey. To God be all glo to God be all the glory. All right. Uh would your assistants like to speak as well?

27:06I'm making a debate teammate. I got a few got a few talkers here. Thank you. Again,

27:09I just wanted to thank everyone so much. It has really been an honor to work with the amazing adults and students because they have worked so hard and they have brought us so much honor and feeling of greatness within their intelligence and capability. And I'm hoping that they take this opportunity to improve themselves academically as well as socially and to be able to be here is such an

27:40honor. Thanks again.

27:42Now any of the students would like to say a few words? Some of the uh what it was like to win the national awards and all?

27:50Hello. Um Thank you so much for having us here. I'm truly grateful to be here. Um I did win the national award back in January. And it truly was a life-changing experience for me. I think it opened a lot of doors that I would not have had otherwise. And I'm truly grateful to be recognized by you. Truly all of us are. Just this experience alone is very memorable and is truly a very big impact on our lives. And we're very excited to be here today. I hope one day that I could be working alongside all of you. Thank

28:20you.

28:21Congratulations. Wow. All right. Anyone else? Yeah.

28:24Let's

28:24practice.

28:27Hello everyone. My name is David Lee. I am the team captain of the Pasco High School speech and debate team. And on behalf of my fellows my fellow team members, I would like to um Thank the Board of Commissioners for recognizing us and our achievements. And like Mr. Valdez said, when we first started this um club Like last year in September of twenty twenty four, we didn't think we'd get this far. We didn't think we would have all the achievements, the wins and all that we've had over the past two school years, but under his leadership

28:57and his dedication, we have really our club has grown. We've seen ourselves grown and if anything, we owe we owe all of our success to him. And and Miss Bachelor as well and to all of our parents who are who have supported us, going to our competitions, driving us there, and alongside the um and alongside our administration for being really supportive of uh of us as well. And um yeah, thank you very much.

29:22All right.

29:23And

29:23literally we we actually there's a kind of a later schedule for us today, so if anyone else wants to say anything else about your experience. Come forward.

29:33Hello, my name is Astor Ayala Perez, and in Speech and Debate, I compete in the impromptu speaking category. I used to be a person with such a limited voice, with such fear in my heart. And the way that joining this team, not only because my family recommended it, but because so many students and Mr. Valdez himself recommended it to me. They all saw my potential, they all saw the person that I could become. And through speech and debate, through speaking, using my voice, I've become an entirely different

30:03person who has so much more power, who has so many more opportunities. To say that I've been a part of this team has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. It's giving me friends, camaraderie, and just a way to be myself and use the power. that I know I have. I'm entirely so grateful to be here with all of you, to be recognized. I never thought that I could be up here speaking to all of you The opportunity is so great, the blessing is so immense, and I am

30:33so grateful to all of my teammates, to my coach, to my assistant coach, Miss Bachelor, Mr. Valdez, all of you. I'm grateful to the Board of Commissioners. I wouldn't be here without the belief that you had in me, and truly I am so grateful. Thank you.

30:47Well and before you go. Uh I want you to all know while the names were being called he clapped quietly before all of you. Uh and and I'm so glad you took this the step to get out of an uncomfortable situation to get in there and and and go do it. It's it's a big thing. P public speak it's a dip most difficult thing to do, the scariest thing to do. So to take this big step forward, I congratulate you and all of you for for making that move and that step.

31:12Thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

31:16Mr. Chairman Mariano. Commissioner Oakley. Okay. I'm uh Of course, a graduate of Pasco High School, so I'm definitely very proud of each and every one of you for what you've done. It's strange that I graduated in 1963. And as of this year. That's been 63 years since I graduated as a senior at Pasco High School. I'm very proud of what y'all have done. Because the fact of it is when I was a senior and and

31:46junior and senior in in high school You wouldn't have found me on this debate team or speaking out in front of people 'cause I was very bashful. You can't believe that now 'cause these guys know I'm not bashful now, so But it's pretty amazing what you develop. And what y'all started in your future by being on this debate team. I'm very proud of you. I gave each one of them and their coaches One of my challenge corns. for them to be challenged, to

32:16continue the good works they've started and to continue that throughout their lives, to be better citizens in Pasco County and be our future leaders here in Pasco County. Don't say it never Of what your possibilities are for you to do because I'm telling you, it's amazing what you can do if you set your mind right to do the right thing. And I'm very, very proud of each and every one of you. So thank you. Okay.

32:44And you wanted to say a few words too? Come on.

32:47Hi, I'm Rachel Marie from this school. Um so But I'm the secretary and I'm a kinda talkative person, right? So normally I would talk in my classes and stuff, but this speech and debate team gave me a way to talk and like direct my speaking and get prizes and stuff. And I gained like a cool family from it and I appreciate you guys for like recognizing us and what we're doing. So thank you.

33:16You're welcome.

33:18Okay.

33:18I also want to add that just recently we achieved another milestone and three of our students will be representing Pasco County in the state of Florida in the national speech and debate tournament in Richmond, Virginia this summer. Thank you. Fantastic.

33:31Very good. Anyone else want to speak? Commissioner Weightman.

33:36Right, Commissioner Oakley, proud class of two thousand and four, mayor twenty-two years ago. I think our saying was uh

33:46You've seen the rest, now you've seen the best. And that was twenty-two twenty-two years ago, but no, yeah. You're right. Said it. Public speaking is what the number one fear, one of the top fears of anybody in the whole world to do. and to accomplish the art of speaking and not just speaking but debate. in front of your peers and supporting each other and and and and going to compete. is is quite impressive. And

34:16you know, to to to show up From how you carry yourselves, how we see you standing here today, how you're dressed today, it shows your care. You're on the right track to have very successful lives and careers. So keep your head up, keep focused, keep working hard. know that there's people here to always support you if you hit a little speed bump and uh wish you all the best. When when I was there, the debate team, we didn't we didn't have a debate team. So it's fantastic to see the evolution of

34:46sport, if you will, come into Pasco High School. And very part of very proud to be part of the red and black family. So I know there's a couple of orange and black Out there in the crowd a day, you can keep sitting down, go pirates.

35:03Who's orange and black? Zephyrhills. Zephyrhills. Oh. Um

35:10First of all, y'all look very professional. Um and congratulations to all of you. And just like my well I didn't know if Commissioner Weightman said he was a nervous speaker, but I can tell you In college, when I had to publicly speak in front of my class to present my interior design boards, I literally was physically sick. I mean I would miss class, it was very hard for me. When I had to first speak publicly as a school board member. My heart was just pounding out of my chest, so Um I

35:41don't think I would have even had the courage to join a debate club in high school, uh, although I was never silent around the dinner table. But out in public? Forget it. So Uh you don't I don't think you can really appreciate how far this skill is gonna take you in life. So um I'm just so proud of you all. I wish you all continued success. And um you know, come back and I'd I'd love to know how this uh helps you in your later life. So

36:12if someone could keep us informed of of what what this class um accomplishes. I'd love to know it. So

36:18congratulations.

36:19Commissioner Yeager.

36:21Okay, first of all, your stories gave me goosebumps. I I love what this club has done for you guys. Second, do we have any future attorneys after being in the debate club? There we go. Exactly. See that's what it means. Yeah. And I also want to extend the invitation to to you students that if you have any interest in local government and you would like to shadow one of us for the day, we would love to have you. So congratulations on your achievement and I'm just really excited for you guys and such a short time span

36:51that you guys grew the club and to win like that is just absolutely amazing. So congratulations.

36:58And I think we signed twenty four Twenty-four forms? But there's not twenty four here, so not everyone's here today? Yeah, so it's even bigger than what you're seeing here today, everybody. So

37:11so

37:11I I just wanted to say we had three Cambridge students who were concerned about missing a test. And they were they asked us to please let you know that they wanted to be here, but that um their parents said their academics came first.

37:27Absolutely. Great job. And I I wanna I would just say Coach Kvel does great job with this. Um you know uh anything you can do to improve your education is great. This is such a dynamic improvement. And there's actually three commissioners here that were very quiet and shy in high school that uh wouldn't have If did not do it, it's not a good thing. Would have been afraid to do it. So to have the courage to step up and do this, I salute you all for doing it. I think it is going to lead, as Commissioner Starkey says, great careers for all of you and we wish you all the best. Because there's so many

37:55I'm gonna go down and take a picture.

37:57Yeah, so with so many Commissioner Oakley will go down with you, he ended all the resolutions. We're gonna stay back up here just so we better be a better part of the picture. But congratulations.

38:24Or get from the

38:26eight or the Compete.

38:28We're gonna let the alumni come in too.

38:30Can you guys center

38:31out the

38:33right-of-way?

38:35You're all on one side, okay. But more.

38:40Jordy in the middle.

38:49Where's the orange and brown?

38:59Yeah.

39:02Oh, he knows someone that went there? Okay. We played football in high school.

39:15What's on hard? The red black or the Orange. The orange black was in the red ones.

39:21Oh, he went there? I guess you knew.

39:31That's my update. I'm not gonna get to my issue in time.