BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China (BIBS•C) students continue to make their mark on the global speech and debate stage, showcasing their skills at two prestigious competitions over the Lunar New Year holiday: the University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic and the Stanford Online Speech & Debate Tournament.
Colin Malinak, BIBS•C Director of Speech & Debate, highlighted the program’s impressive growth. “We’ve experienced incredible growth over these first five years,” he shared. “From one eight-person elective at BASIS International School Shenzhen to now well over 1,000 active competitors across 11 campuses. This growth was made possible by the rigorous competition schedule our students have access to here in China, which has prepared them to experience success on the global stage. The accomplishments of these students are a direct result of their hard work, dedication, talent, and compelling storytelling.”
Highlights from Liberty Bell Classic
A delegation of 73 students from seven BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China campuses traveled to the University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic, one of the most competitive high school tournaments in the United States. With over 1,000 students from 14 states, the competition provided an invaluable opportunity for our students to test their abilities against some of the strongest competitors in the country.
Students working with coaches Fraser Wallace (BASIS International School Nanjing) and Antonio Gutierrez (BASIS International School Hangzhou) between rounds.
Students getting advice from Ava T., a Grade 9 student at BASIS International School Shenzhen, before the first debate round.
Krish M. Tournament Champion in Informative Speaking
Among the many achievements, Krish M., a Grade 10 student at BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu, claimed a tournament championship in Informative Speaking, demonstrating excellence in public address and research-based speech.
Reflecting on his experience, Krish expressed the challenges and insights he gained. “I really enjoyed the tournament overall, and it was exciting and valuable to compete against students of a really high level. I felt that most of the competitors were excellent, and honestly, I felt outmatched quite often. The competition was much steeper than what I’m used to in China, but everyone there was really supportive. The topics discussed were all super insightful, and I learned a lot from my competitors. The most challenging part of the tournament was probably having to adapt my speaking style to the more formal, rehearsed style that seemed more common in these US competitions, but I maintained some casual humor since it felt more natural to me.”
ZiQi L., Sixth Place in Original Oratory
Additionally, ZiQi L., a Grade 9 student from BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen, reached the final round in Original Oratory, building on her earlier success at the Glenbrooks Tournament in October, where she was the next out—a testament to how international experience and perseverance lead to growth and success.
Ziqi shared how competing in tournaments has helped refine her skills over time. “My experience at Glenbrooks allowed me to get a feel for the level of competitiveness in America, which, obviously, is high. After that tournament, I was able to look back on the commentary the judges gave me and understand where I needed to improve. In the following months, I worked with my coaches to elevate the delivery of my speech, which was extremely necessary because, at UPenn, I saw and competed against some of the best speeches and debates in the world. In the process of observing these speeches, I’ve begun to identify patterns in what the best speakers all do and implement these strategies in my own speech. “
After months of focused improvement, ZiQi found her motivation evolved beyond just winning. “Ironically enough, even though the competitive aspect of speech and debate was definitely there, I found that I wasn’t as interested in winning as I originally thought I’d be. What took up the majority of my focus was watching and listening to my competitors because the things they were saying were so profound and so deeply moving.”
Stanford Invitational Online Success
At the same time as the UPenn competitions, BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China students also competed in the Stanford Online Speech & Debate Tournament, proving their adaptability across both in-person and virtual competitions. In this tournament, Ran C., a Grade 9 student at BASIS International School Shenzhen, made it to the final round in the Novice Congressional Debate, adding another strong performance to our ever-expanding record of excellence.
Ran expressed gratitude for the opportunities provided by the program, saying, “Coming to Shenzhen from Phoenix, I never thought I would have the chance to compete with prominent people and compete at big tournaments like Stanford. I’m truly grateful that I could be a part of this debate community that creates opportunities like these for us! I can’t wait to try again next year!”
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Tournament Results
University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic Results
Informative Speaking
Tournament Champion – Krish M., Grade 10, BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Original Oratory
6th – ZiQi L., Grade 9, BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Quarterfinals – Chloe W., Grade 6, BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Duo Interpretation
Semifinals – Stella C., Grade 8 / Yuki W., Grade 8, BASIS International School Shenzhen
Novice Public Forum Debate
Double Octofinals – Ethan H., Grade 8 / Jeffery W., Grade 8, BASIS International School Shenzhen
Varsity Public Forum Debate
Triple Octofinals – Emma L., Grade 9 / Ava T., Grade 9, BASIS International School Shenzhen
14th Top Speaker – Ava T., Grade 9, BASIS International School Shenzhen
39th Annual Stanford Invitational Online Results
Novice Congressional Debate
Finalist – Ran C., Grade 9, BASIS International School Shenzhen
Informative Speaking
Semifinals – Briana A., Grade 12, BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Open Public Forum Debate
13th Top Speaker – Edric W., Grade 10, BASIS International School Shenzhen
Conclusion
The success of BASIS International & Bilingual Schools • China students at both the University of Pennsylvania Liberty Bell Classic and the Stanford Online Speech & Debate Tournament is a testament to our dedication, resilience, and passion for the art of communication. With the support of exceptional coaches and a rigorous competition schedule, our students continue to thrive on the global stage, gaining invaluable experience that shapes their growth as speakers and thinkers. We look forward to the continued development of our speech and debate program as well as our students’ success!
