Over the weekend of May 25-26, 2024, BASIS International School Shenzhen was honored to host students and administrators from all our campuses to compete in the Second Annual BIBS · C Speech & Debate Championship, honoring excellence in forensics.
The BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China speech and debate season runs from October to May, featuring seven tournaments that build towards the championship event. Throughout the season, students earn qualifying points to secure a spot at the championship.
During the 2023-24 school year, approximately 750 students dedicated themselves to this challenging pursuit. The championship qualifiers represent the top 20% of students who excelled throughout the season. Participating in this prestigious event is an accomplishment every student can be proud of.
Celebrating Achievements
This year’s championship introduced a series of network awards to recognize the outstanding performances and contributions of individuals and schools. These awards honor Student of the Year, Administrator of the Year, and Coach of the Year.
Student of the Year
The Student of the Year Award recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements, commitment, and character of a student who demonstrated excellence in speech and debate, embodying the core values central to our educational ethos.
We are proud to announce Charles X. from BASIS International School Shenzhen as the BIBS · C Student of the Year. In his recommendation letter, BIBS · C Director Colin Malinak shared that Charles X. “is intelligent, talented, and humble, traits that have helped him both in the classroom and the tournament environment and make our team stronger daily. His leadership and independent research projects marry his intellectual endeavors with this community he has chosen to dedicate himself to.”
Charles expressed his gratitude, saying, “I feel greatly fortunate to win the honor of Network Student of the Year, but the journey will not end here. This award encourages me to continue to promote a healthy and supportive environment on my team and across the network, fostering success for all.”
The finalists for Student of the Year, selected from all eight campuses, represent the best of our speech and debate community.
Charles X, G11
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Oliver X, G8
BASIS International School Guangzhou
Kevin Z, G10
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Yulan S, G8
BASIS International School Hangzhou
Terry W, G9
BASIS International School Nanjing
Loghan D, G7
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Jessica L, G10
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Chloe H, G6
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Wuhan
Administrator of the Year
The Administrator of the Year award acknowledges the incredible dedication that goes into making this competition season possible. The award honors an administrator who provided high-quality opportunities for students in speech and debate programming and demonstrates exemplary contributions to the community.
We are proud to announce Pan Hu, Vice Head of Operations at BASIS International School Shenzhen, as the BIBS · C Administrator of the Year for her role in establishing and supporting the speech and debate program across the network.
Colin Malinak shared in his recommendation letter, “I don’t think it’s untrue to say that without Pan Hu, there would not be a Speech & Debate program at BASIS International School Shenzhen, nor would there be a vibrant, competitive, and growing circuit across our network. Pan is the person who figured it all out.”
The finalists for Administrator of the Year hail from all eight campuses, each exemplifying the incredible amount of work and dedication required to make the competition season possible:
Pan Hu, Vice Head of Operations
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Lola Luo, ASA Coordinator
BASIS International School Guangzhou
Dr. Mark Wilkerson, Head of Division
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Andrew Whiston, Vice Head of Division
BASIS International School Hangzhou
Athena Chen, Senior Staff Student Affairs
BASIS International School Nanjing
Matthew Szweda, College Counselor
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Jennifer Gunter, Vice Head of Division
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Wei Callaghan, Dean of Students
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Wuhan
Coach of the Year
The BIBS · C Coach of the Year Award honors a coach who has provided students with high-quality speech and debate opportunities and demonstrates exemplary contributions to the community. Through this award, we recognize the tireless efforts, expertise, and passion our coaches bring in guiding students toward success, instilling core values, and promoting the growth and excellence of the speech and debate community within our schools.
We are proud to announce Andrew Dupre from BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu is the BIBS · C Coach of the Year. Nomination letters from his students, parent community, coworkers, and general manager are all testaments to why Andrew best represents the impact our coaches have on students.
One parent shared, “Mr. Dupre’s coaching style is characterized by a unique blend of expertise, patience, and inspiration. He goes above and beyond to ensure that each student receives the individualized support and guidance they need to excel.”
Andrew remarked, “Winning coach of the year was a validation of the heart and soul I poured into the program and my students. Every victory we had was a collective effort, and the coach of the year award solidified our team spirit.”
Individual Sweepstakes Champions
This year, we are acknowledging the individual accomplishments of students who excelled in multiple categories. To be eligible for this award, students must have competed and earned sweepstakes points in multiple competition categories, including Debate, Interpretation, Limited Preparation, and Public Address.
This year’s Champions are:
BIBS · C Individual Sweepstakes Champion
Ava T.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
Charles X.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
Rhythm S.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fourth Place
Emma Y.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
Emma L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Team Sweepstakes Champions
While the accomplishments of individuals are valuable and commendable, the true measure of a program is the collective accomplishment. At BASIS International & Bilingual Schools · China, students are part of something larger than themselves and contribute to and represent not only their own program but also their schools and the network.
As such, we celebrate team accomplishments with the Top 3 Team Sweepstakes Winners:
BIBS · C Champions
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Third Place
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
A Community Effort
The tournament would not have been possible without the leadership and support of the BASIS International School Shenzhen operational and academic leadership teams, especially General Manager Thomas Qiu, Vice Heads of Operations Pan Hu and Emma Li, and their entire teams. Thank you as well to Executive Head of School Scott Adams, Vice Head of School Mr. Mark Hartley, and all divisional leadership for supporting students throughout the year.
Thank you to all the teachers and administrators who joined the event as judges, providing valuable feedback and support to challenge students’ growth as speakers, performers, and debaters. Many of the chaperones and judges this weekend have been involved in events throughout the year, and your support has been critical in the success of the students and the program.
Please join us in congratulating the accomplishments of all our students this year.
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Full BIBS · C Speech & Debate Championship Results
Informative Speaking
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
BRIANA A.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Second Place
RHYTHM S.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
LUCY W.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fourth Place
EMMA Y.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
EVELYN C.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Sixth Place
TONY T.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Original Oratory
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
RACHELLE Z.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Second Place
KAEDYN C.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Third Place
ZIQI L.
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Fourth Place
AVA T,
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
EDRIC W.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Sixth Place
GLORIA W.
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
SEMIFINALISTS
GRACE G.
BASIS International School Hangzhou
VIVIAN Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
GAVIN L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
HEBE C.
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
DAVID Z.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
IVY Z.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Solo Interpretation
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
EMMA Y.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
RYAN X.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
LOGHAN D.
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Fourth Place
EMMA Y.
BASIS International School Hangzhou
Fifth Place
IVY L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Sixth Place
TONY T.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Duo Interpretation
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
XIAO & TIAN
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
YANG & YANG
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
AILINCAI & ZHANG
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Fourth Place
DUDLEY & XIAO
BASIS Bilingual School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
ZOU & CHEN
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Sixth Place
YU & SHENG
BASIS International School Hangzhou
Extemporaneous Speaking
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
CHARLES X.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
EDRIC W.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
ERIC S.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fourth Place
JAMES L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
RHYTHM S.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Sixth Place
ALEX Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Impromptu Speaking
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
CHLOE C. W.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Second Place
EMMA L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Third Place
CHLOE Q. W.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Fourth Place
LUCY W.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Fifth Place
CHERIE Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Sixth Place
DAVID C.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
SEMIFINALISTS
BENJAMIN L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
VICKY L.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
YUMIE F.
BASIS International School Hangzhou
RACHEL Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
BELLA Z.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
DAVID Z.
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Middle School Public Forum Debate
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
Cecilia L.
BASIS International School Guangzhou
Outstanding Speaker
Austin H.
BASIS International & Bilingual Schools Chengdu
Outstanding Speaker
Vivian Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Outstanding Speaker
Alice W.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Outstanding Speaker
Makayla Z.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
TIAN & LIN
BASIS International School Shenzhen
SemiFinalist
JIANG & ZOU
BASIS International School Shenzhen
SemiFinalist
LE & YE
BASIS International School Shenzhen
SemiFinalist
CHEN & WU
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Quarter Finalist
WU & LIN
BASIS International School Park Lane Harbour
Quarter Finalist
ZHU & LU
BASIS International School Guangzhou
Quarter Finalist
XIE & WU
BASIS International School Nanjing
Quarter Finalist
ZHONG & HUANG
BASIS International School Shenzhen
High School Public Forum Debate
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
CHARLES X.
BASIS International School Shenzhen
BIBS · C Tournament Champion
SINGHAL & XU
BASIS International School Shenzhen
Second Place
LIU & MAI
BASIS International School Shenzhen
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