About the fundraiser: We are thrilled to announce that seven talented students from Helena and Capital High Schools have qualified to compete at the Centennial National Speech and Debate Tournament this June in Des Moines, Iowa! These students rose to the top in statewide competition and now have the incredible honor of representing Montana on the national stage.
Students must raise $20,000 to cover the costs of travel, lodging, and tournament fees. Without this support, these hardworking students may must forfeit their opportunity to compete.
To help make Nationals a reality, we’ve partnered with Lady and Bird Films for a one-night-only screening of the Sundance documentary Speak.—a powerful film that celebrates the spirit of speech and debate.
All screening profits go directly to the Helena & Capital High Speech & Debate Nationals Fund.
This is your chance to enjoy an inspiring documentary and support our rising stars in one unforgettable evening. Every ticket purchased brings us closer to our goal. Help us show the nation what Montana students are made of. Thank you for believing in our team and supporting our journey to Nationals!
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About SPEAK: Five top-ranked high school oratory students spend a year crafting spellbinding spoken word performances with the dream of winning one of the world’s largest and most intense public speaking competitions.
Directors Jennifer Tiexiera and Guy Mossman take us behind the scenes of the prestigious competition that’s seen Oprah, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, Josh Gad, and Brad Pitt compete. The film provides a heartfelt glimpse into the lives of five competitors — raising prized pigs, managing TikTok fame, dating dreamy boyfriends, and navigating complicated family dynamics — all while handling the immense pressure of striving for a championship title.
Tiexiera and Mossman skillfully blend moments of youthful levity with the weight of urgent social issues tackled in their speeches, from anti-LGBTQ+ legislation to the epidemic of school shootings. These students aren’t just driven competitors. They’re grappling with real-life problems, but their passion and ambition offer hope that the next generation of leaders is ready to rise to the challenge of an increasingly fraught world.
