Haskell Celebrates Another State Championship For Speech, Drama, Debate

Haskell High School continued its winning streak at the state championship speech, drama and debate tournament over the weekend.

Haskell won first place in Class 3A for the sixth year in a row at the event, which took place at the University of Oklahoma.

More than a dozen students on the team placed in their respective categories, from Humorous Interpretation to Lincoln Douglas Debate and Chris Rogers was state champion in Foreign Extemp.

Assistant Principal Julie Bills attributes the team's success year after year to teacher Jody Batie. She says his commitment to the students and to education as a whole is the key.

She said the students also work very hard, coming to school before classes start and staying after school to work on their material.

Seven students on the team were also recognized at the State Superintendent Awards for Arts Excellence 2016 presented by Superintendent Joy Hofmeister.

Those students are Logan Baker, Savanna Benn, Jennifer Campbell, Isabella Cefalone, Cierra Jackson, Emily Jackson, and Joanna Van Brunt in the category of Drama.