Lasting Impact! Summer Speech and Debate Camps

We are in the thick of summer planning! One of the many things we do is come to YOU! Local families, coaches, or clubs invite The Lasting Impact! Team to come in a provide your local area with all of the latest, up to date speech and debate materials to help equip students and to jump start them into the world of speech and debate! Whether students are brand new, you are trying to motivate your reluctant debater, you are trying to grow your club, or you are looking for a fresh new perspective with energy, excitement, and passion for students learning the art of communication… we are here for you! Our summer camps are geared toward the needs of your local area! We customize every camp and send the top coaches! Last year we went to over a dozen locations nationwide! Where are we going this year? The list we be out SOON! Oh- and don’t worry, if we can’t come to your area… we will have summer online options as well!

Do you want to join the Lasting Impact! Summer Tour? We are looking for team members!
Do you want the Lasting Impact! Team to come to your area? We have some space available!

Contact – heather@lastingimpact.info

Why Debaters (or anyone) Should Try Extemp by Honor Hoffmann

Honor Hoffmann has been around speech and debate a long time! I remember her as an eager 12 year old. She had a zest and a zeal for learning, which has not stopped even after she graduated. Now she continues to give back, and has become quite the coach and expert! Her experience, as well as her gifts for teaching blesses our Lasting Impact! community. She wrote our Limited Prep Guide, and is also teaching a Limited Prep Club second semester (sign up NOW). If you want to grow as a competitor or learn more as a parent or coach… sign up for her Club, schedule a coaching call with her, read her book, or read the article below…

My first year of speech and debate, I mainly picked extemp because it was limited prep, and I wanted to put as little time into speech as possible. I was confident that my natural speaking skills would carry the day, regardless of my level of preparation.

At my first tournament, I got a cold splash of reality. Nearly all the extempers in the prep room were seniors, they were the excessively analytical types that wore bow ties and actually understood economic theories, and a large percentage were tall and imposing guys. Needless to say, I got slaughtered on every ballot that year.

Yet despite the reputation Extemp has received as a category for older students who are into research, I’m convinced that every speech and debater would benefit from trying extemp. Why? Here are three big reasons:

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Unlocking the Power of Interpretive Speeches

Is this your year to try an interpretive speech? It’s not too late to jump in! Not sure where to begin or want to get on a FAST TRACK? Join me and Mrs. D for Fast Track Interp. We will be your very own guides through the World of Interp. Sign up now! Or keep reading this article on WHY you need to add an interpretive speech to your high school speech and debate career!

You might be wondering, "Why on earth should we care about these speeches?" Well, you're in for a treat because interpretive speaking isn't just another high school requirement – it's a valuable skill that can benefit you in countless ways. So, let's break it down and discover why interpretive speeches are worth your time and effort.

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Second Semester Clubs Are About to Begin! SIGN UP NOW!

We are in full gear of the 2024 Tournament Season! Are you reading those ballots and feeling like you just need a little more push, edge, or inspiration!? Join a Lasting Impact! Club for all of the above, including GROWTH and fellowship! Second Semester Clubs are geared for the competition! Our coaches are actively involved in tournaments, judging, watching, understanding the elements of Speech and Debate, and what trends are trending. Are you looking for a little more this season? Sign up for one or more of the club below…

  • Speech 102 – Heather Neumann , along with public speaking pros, will be helping students take a deeper dive into their speeches. Students will practice and hone their speeches and receive feedback.
  • FAST TRACK – Interp – A six week course on quickly on creating a piece. There’s no reason not to jump into an interpretive speech this season! Why not start NOW!
  • LD Strategies – Ethan Tong will lead students deeper through the NCFCA resolution. This will be the place to be for extra practice, analysis, and growth!
  • Limited Prep Club – This eight week course with Honor Hoffmann will help you navigate the limited prep events – Apologetics, Extemporaneous, and Impromptu Speaking. These three events take practice! And typically more than just at a tournament! Come gain insight into these valuable events!

All clubs will be recorded, if you can’t make it. But as always, you will get the most out of being present! Tell your friends! Head to the SHOP and sign up NOW! Looking for more individual growth? Sign up for a one on one Coaching Session or a Script Assessment HERE. We look forward to seeing you soon!

FREE Moot Court Judging Webinar – Nov. 28

Parents! If you’re interested in judging Moot Court this year, but aren’t sure if you’ll be able to tackle the material, Lasting Impact! is putting on a workshop just for you. Ethan Tong, Blackstone Head Coach, will be explaining this year’s packet in the most accessible way possible, giving you a head start so that you can feel confident judging rounds. He’ll explain both sides of every argument the competitors could make, give you a list of good questions to ask students to take home with you, and give tips on ballot scoring. You won’t want to miss. And best of all, it’s FREE! Please invite anyone else you may know who’s interested. We want to give this resource to you so that the season is the best it can be for the competitors! Click HERE to register.

When: Tuesday, November 28th, at 7:30-9pm CT
Where: Zoom!

Still Using My Speech and Debate Skills by: Keziah Alatis


Heart pounding. Palms sweating. Timer beeping. Pause. “Judges Ready?” Although the long, grueling days of speech and debate tournaments are behind me, these words manage to strike a peculiar chord of nostalgia and trepidation. From the first few tournaments when I competed via parental encouragement to the last tournaments when I remember thinking I’d miss these days. My speech and debate career ranged from sheer terror to apprehensive excitement. And even though I received a fair share of awards and plaques, I don’t think there was ever a speech I gave in my entire speech and debate career in which I didn’t tremble uncontrollably. Now, as a seasoned college student, I have noticed my speech and debate training come flying in at the most opportune times. And I’m wildly thankful for it…

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Do a New Thing – Do Apologetics! by: Karen Harper

My dear friend, Karen (affectionately known to me as Sally) was an Apologetics Coach for her Speech Club, Truth Advocates, for a number of years. The Lord called her home unexpectedly on Oct. 18, 2023. She was a tremendous blessing to her family and community outside Louisville, KY. She wrote this article for me back in 2019. I feel pressed to share it again. There is so much truth here! I wanted you to catch her heart and vision of why and how you can DO APOLOGETICS! In memory of Karen, aka my Sally…

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Navigating the Sea of Speech Topics

Hey there, fellow speech enthusiasts! Ahoy! You might be wondering why I sound like a sailor navigating the high seas. Well, embarking on your speech journey in Speech and Debate is not so different from setting sail. And one of the places we can find ourselves lost in the sea is when we are asked to choose a topic! So how do you find the perfect wind to carry your ship (or in this case, your speech) forward…

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Grow Your Limited Prep Skills

How many of you actually practice your limited preparation speeches? Many people think they don’t have to, because it’s supposed to be “off the cuff.” Right!? But, did you know, if you really want to grow as a speaker and communicator, the number one way is to practice through limited prep speaking!?! And Lasting Impact! has a variety of ways for you to practice those skills…

  1. Join a Club! Whether it’s online or in person, clubs (hopefully) provide lots of practice, whether it’s through speech or debate. Lasting Impact! has specific clubs for Limited Prep, and specifically for Apologetics or Extemporaneous. All of our clubs have an emphasis on practice! We are here to help guide you and help you grow! There is still time to sign up for our Limited Prep Clubs for fall 2023. 
    – Limited Prep Club – starts TONIGHT!
    – Apologetics Club – starts Friday!
    – Extemporaneous Roundtable – starts Sept. 26
  2. The Limited Prep Guide. Want to explore all the different types of limited prep speech categories on your own? Or do you want to lead or teach limited prep speaking skills? Lasting Impact! has created their very own guide to help walk you through the ins and outs of this huge category! And we proved a plethora of activities, as well as a resource packet to keep you busy and practicing all season long!

Listen what author, Honor Persing has to say about the guide. Here is part of her introduction to the book…

“Welcome to the world of limited prep speaking! I’m so glad you’re here. Limited Preparation can be a very daunting category of speech–you only get a few minutes to sort out your thoughts and develop a well-reasoned speech on an important topic. While it’s a challenge, limited prep can also be the most rewarding type of speech. It stretches your mind unlike any other category, forcing you to think quickly, analyze effectively, and come up with thought-provoking stories and examples on the spot.

Limited prep is also a category that uniquely prepares you for life. While education, persuasion, and acting are valuable skills that you learn in the other categories, no other type of speech applies to as wide a range of life. Anytime you’re called upon to give your opinion on a political topic, speak in a group (or even one-on-one), or defend essential truths of the faith, you’re drawing on a limited prep skill.

This guide is designed to help you create those limited prep skills, whether you’re a novice starting out or an advanced student looking to up your game. For each limited prep category you’ll find an “ABCs” section with basic tips and explanations to help you get started. If you already understand the basics, you can jump to “next-level tips” where intermediate students can find advice and suggestions. Finally, “elite advice” will challenge seasoned students to push themselves as far as possible in developing their skills. At the end of each section you’ll find some helpful exercises so that you can practice the concepts discussed for yourself.

You can read this guide straight through or turn to the sections that are relevant to you. Either way, I hope you find a few practical and interesting tips that you can take with you and that you leave feeling a little more confident about the world of limited prep!” 

You can purchase the Limited Prep Guide HERE. With daily practice, your communication skills will grow stronger. Also- don’t forget, we also created the Lasting Impact! Activity Prompt Cards – ways to make club or home more fun and engaging through activity prompts!

Skeptic to Supporter: Rationalism vs. Empiricism by: Kaeley Whitacre


We spent a lot of time on this year’s GuideS… that’s right! We have TWO LD GUIDES. Take advantage of the bundled price (only $40) up until the end of the weekend. Go to the SHOP now, or hear what recent graduate and National LD Finalist, Lasting Impact Team Member, Kaeley Whitacre had to say about this resolution. I gave her the task of tackling it, as if she were still a competitor…

Continue reading “Skeptic to Supporter: Rationalism vs. Empiricism by: Kaeley Whitacre”

2023-2024 – Biggest LD Year Ever!

If you are a student, parent, club leader, or coach… Lasting Impact! is here to assist you in your speech and debate journey! This year will be our biggest Lincoln Douglas year ever! From clubs/classes – intro to advanced, to casebooks to guide books, to one on one coaching, to clubs. We are here for you! We coach all leagues… you should check out everything we offer…

  • Intro to LD with Peter Montgomery (not league specific)
  • LD Fundamentals with Nathanael and Hillary Kolssak
  • LD Strategies with Ethan Tong
  • Advanced LD with Noah McKay
  • Stoa LD with Charis Baker
  • NCFCA LD Guide Book Bundle – 2 Guides!!
  • Stoa LD – 5 Resolution Casebook

Head to the SHOP to see all the resources and how we can assist you!