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Stoneleigh-Burnham School’s Debate & Public Speaking is Headed to Worlds! 

This month, Stoneleigh-Burnham School hosted a tournament for the Debating Association of New England Independent Schools (DANEIS) league, welcoming top student speakers from across the region to compete in persuasive speaking, impromptu speaking, and interpretive reading. 

Among the standout performances was Maeve ’26, President of the SBS Debate & Public Speaking Society, whose scores qualified her for the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) - known across the DANEIS community simply as “Worlds.” 

Held each spring in a different host nation, Worlds brings together the top students from six continents to compete on the global stage. This year’s competition will take place in Bristol, England, where Maeve will join other top U.S. qualifiers as part of Team USA. 

For SBS, this milestone marks the 23rd student to qualify for Worlds since the competition’s inception, underscoring the school’s long tradition of empowering students to speak up, take the lead, and make an impact beyond campus. 

And with the season just getting started, and the team’s already impressive standings, Maeve may not be the only SBS Owl bound for Worlds. Stay tuned!