South Carolina H 5294: Teachers of the Year

Bill Text

2025-2026 Bill 5294 Text of Previous Version (Mar. 03, 2026) - South Carolina Legislature Online 

South Carolina General Assembly
126th Session, 2025-2026

Bill 5294

Indicates Matter Stricken
Indicates New Matter

(Text matches printed bills. Document has been reformatted to meet World Wide Web specifications.)

A house RESOLUTION

TO RECOGNIZE AND 
HONOR THE SUMTER HIGH SCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE ASSOCIATION CHAPTER FOR ITS 
VISION AND SUCCESS AND TO DECLARE FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2026, AS "SPEECH AND DEBATE 
EDUCATION DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, National 
Speech and Debate Education Day, observed on the first Friday in March, 
recognizes the vital role scholastic speech and debate programs play in shaping 
students' critical thinking, research, writing, public speaking, and civic 
engagement skills; and

Whereas, recognition of 
these skills carries special significance in South Carolina, where Sumter High 
School has reestablished a speech and debate program for the first time in more 
than two decades and now serves as the only active National Speech and Debate 
Association chapter across the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Lowcountry regions; and

Whereas, Sumter High 
School's program began after two students expressed a desire to compete despite 
limited initial resources. A Pay It Forward Grant provided the foundation for 
official membership and competition; and

Whereas, following 
early tournament success, the Sumter High team worked collaboratively with 
school leadership and community partners to address the logistical demands of 
travel and competition through fundraisers, civic sponsorships, and service 
initiatives, including a community blood drive benefiting local hospitals; and

Whereas, in its 
inaugural season, more than forty students joined the team, multiple 
tournaments were attended, and students earned numerous top placements across 
several events; and

Whereas, despite its geographic 
distance from other active programs, Sumter High successfully hosted its first 
virtual tournament, welcoming sixteen schools with more than one hundred 
seventy entries and marking a significant milestone in the program's growth and 
regional impact; and

Whereas, the South 
Carolina House of Representatives salutes the students and faculty members of 
the Sumter High School chapter of the National Speech and Debate Association 
and encourage citizens across the State to value this vital aspect of education 
for our youth. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

That the members of the 
South Carolina House of Representatives, 
by this resolution, recognize and honor the Sumter High School Speech and 
Debate Association chapter for its vision and success and declare Friday, March 
6, 2026, as "Speech and Debate Education Day" in South Carolina.

Be it further resolved 
that a copy of this resolution be presented to Sumter High School chapter of 
the National Speech and Debate Association.

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This web page was last updated on March 03, 2026 at 01:04 PM