Due to travel challenges, some of this year’s featured speakers may be speaking from a real-time virtual platform (aka zoomed in).

Griffith Vertican

Griffith is a licensed Attorney, the 2007 NPDA National Champion, and one of the most successful coaches in Stoa, having coached for 12+ years. He's coached five different national champions in all three forms of debate, and both the 2018 and 2019 LD national champions were his students.

Isaiah McPeak

Isaiah McPeak is the co-founder of Ethos Debate Publications LLC. He has consulted and coached Fortune 500 executives, politicians, authors, keynote speakers, and students since 2003.

Eric Garcia

Eric Garcia has been the policy coach for Veritas since Fall of 2006. As a former collegiate coach, he also qualified multiple teams to the NPTE for both Irvine Valley College and Biola University.

Heather Neumann

Heather Neumann is the founder of Lasting Impact!, an online resource for students, parents, coaches, and clubs, empowering them with tools to create a lasting impact in the world.

Gabe Waddell

Once a homeschool debater, Gabe Waddell is a graduate of the Oak Brook College of Law, much of which he paid for with speech competition scholarships. He currently practices law in Fresno, California.

Cathy Wickham

Cathy Wickham is NIHD Camp’s wonderful administrator!

Sara Shipley

Sara competed both domestically and internationally for seven years, winning multiple titles and specializing in TP, Parli, and Limited Prep. She is passionate about coaching effective communication and equipping students with the skills they need to change the world for Christ.

Ethan Blount

Ethan Blount competed in speech and debate for five years, winning over 100 awards total. In all of his different forms of speaking, he appreciates the power and utility of oratory and believes that its true purpose is the Glorification of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Savanna Winchel

Savanna Winchel competed in STOA for four years and has been involved in the STOA community for over a decade. She has a deep love for learning and an enthusiastic passion for teaching students to do great things for the glory of God, through the art of public speaking.

Dylan Jacobs

Dylan Jacobs has competed in almost every speech and debate event. In 2019 he went 5-1 in LD at NITOC and got 6th place in Parli, becoming the national champion in demonstration speech as well. He was the 2020 national champion, finishing 1st on Speechranks for the season.

Clara Harney

Clara Harney was blessed to compete in Stoa for 4 years, placing first at multiple tournaments and winning two Championships in her final year. She is passionate about coaching students to improve their abilities and communicate for the glory of God.

Noah Johnson

Noah finished first or second in two dozen tournaments, completing his STOA journey with his most treasured blessing from God: First in Apologetics at NITOC 2019. Noah strives to kindle in the hearts of others a true realization of the goodness and beauty of God, and he longs to share that same desire with others.

Jared Cochrane

Jared was involved in Stoa for 3 years and competed primarily in LD debate. During his second year, he was blessed to finish in 2nd place at NITOC 2015. After high school, he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Physics.

Adrian King

Adrian competed in Stoa from 2017-2020. She has had a wide range of experience, competing in all three debate forms and almost every speech even. She has a deep passion for teaching what she has learned in order to empower and inspire next year’s Stoa competitors.