Recent Clay County Community High School graduate Alessia Carrales has earned one of the highest honors in high school speech and debate, being named a finalist for the 2026 William Woods Tate, Jr., National Student of the Year Award through the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).
Selected from a nationwide organization of more than 140,000 student members, Carrales is one of only six finalists chosen for this prestigious recognition.
The NSDA Student of the Year Award celebrates students who exemplify the organization’s core values both in competition and in their communities. Each NSDA district across the country is given the opportunity to select one graduating senior as its District Student of the Year. Coaches nominate students who best represent the Association’s Code of Honor, which emphasizes humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service. She was nominated by her coach, Megan Blackburn.
Carrales will now participate in interviews with an esteemed national panel. The overall National Student of the Year recipient will be announced during the National Awards Assembly at the NSDA National Tournament later this summer.
The award is named in honor of William Woods Tate, Jr., a respected educator and longtime advocate for student leadership and communication education. The recognition highlights students who use speech and debate as a platform to positively impact their schools and communities.
USD 379 congratulates Alessia on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes her the best as she represents CCCHS and the state of Kansas on the national stage later this year.