Keira Steffen Earns Spot at National Debate Tourney 

Keira Steffen earned her place at the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament by taking third place in Congressional Debate at South Dakota’s Congress and Big Question Qualifier. The qualifying event was held Friday, March 14, at Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School. The national contest to be held in Des Moines, Iowa, is set to welcome 6000 debaters from across the country from June 15-20.

Steffen will join Bulldog Max Schuelke on the trip to Nationals. Schuelke previously qualified in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Bri Hicks missed qualifying in Big Question Debate by one vote in the finals round at Roosevelt. 

Friday’s event also included an awards ceremony for senior debaters and oral interp students. Schuelke received one of the four Karl Mundt awards given to outstanding senior Lincoln Douglas debaters. Recipients were chosen by votes from coaches across the state.

“Qualifiers to the national tournament will receive their topics and will be spending lots of out-of-school time preparing for the tournament which will take place in nine different schools in the Des Moines area,” explained Kathy Tyler, Milbank’s head debate coach. “Max will have at least six rounds of debate. He will need eight winning ballots from his 12 judges to move to the break rounds. Keira will be in her ‘House’ all Monday and Tuesday morning debating bills written by NSDA members.” Advanced round winners will debate Wednesday through Friday. 

“Debate has the longest season of any extra-curricular activity —November through mid-March,” noted Tyler.  “The time and effort that debaters and oral interpers dedicate to their events is rewarded in their final tournaments. They do Milbank proud!”