Category: Opportunities

The Gift of Speech and Debate Coaching

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Why Students and Parents Benefit from Investing in an Outside Speech & Debate Coach

In Speech and Debate, we often talk about skills—communication, organization, delivery, argumentation. But behind every great speaker, every confident competitor, every transformed student… there is usually a coach… a coach can be a club coach, mentor, sibling, alumni, even a parent!!

A coach is more than a tutor. More than a teacher.
A coach is a guide, a mentor, and often the person who sees potential long before the student sees it in themselves.

Coaching, at its core, is a gift—a gift of clarity, confidence, and growth that lasts far beyond tournaments. Why can a coach be the right fit for you? Why does coaching matter? Read on…

Continue reading “The Gift of Speech and Debate Coaching” →

Lasting Impact! Who We Are…

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Welcome to Lasting Impact! If you are new here or need a reminder of who we are, what we do, or OUR HEARTS, let me share that with you! At Lasting Impact, we believe that every voice deserves to be heard—and what better way to equip young people than through the art of communication and speech and debate. For over a decade, we’ve been supporting students not just in developing rhetorical confidence, but in nurturing their Christian worldview so they can speak with conviction, grace, and purpose.

What Makes Lasting Impact! Different

  • Christ-Centered Coaching: We don’t just teach students how to speak—we help them understand why their words matter. Our coaches guide competitors to articulate truth, act with integrity, and reflect Christ in every argument and interaction.
  • Real-World Skills, Real-World Faith: From our countless resources to coaching sessions to debate strategy and script assessments, our tools are grounded in practical skills—but always rooted in biblical principles.
  • A Legacy of Growth, Not Just Trophies: Our goal isn’t to chase awards—it’s to cultivate growth. As one coach reflects, we help students see that “competition allows you the opportunity… to learn to effectively communicate a Christian worldview.”
  • Our Community & Coaches
    Our team—seasoned coaches and Christian mentors—is committed to walking alongside each student. Whether you’re shaping your delivery, fine-tuning an argument, or seeking encouragement between rounds, our coaches bring both expertise and heartfelt support. Their genuine love for the students shows in every class, every feedback session, and every post-tournament conversation.

Why Lasting Impact! Matters
In a world where media and communication are powerful tools, we equip students to use their voices wisely—answering not just for trophies or applause, but for dignity, truth, and to ultimately deepen their faith. Speech and debate becomes more than a hobby: it becomes a platform for Christ.

Get in Touch
Curious how your student can get started? Whether it’s private coaching, script feedback, or an online club, we’re here to help them grow. Reach out and let’s start this journey together.

Heather Neumann is the Founder and Director of Lasting Impact! She continues to coach, lead clubs, mentor students and parents, runs tournaments, and still makes time to direct theater and write plays. She loves spending time with her own family any chance she can get. She can be reached at heather@lastingimpact.info

Sign Up for FREE Fall Apologetics Club – Starts TONIGHT!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Although most our clubs have started we are still happy to welcome a few more! Why not start with FREE Apologetics TONIGHT! That’s right we decided that we’re going to do something completely different for apol club this year.

We’re dropping discussion of the specific Speech and Debate Apol topics in favor of a broader, more holistic approach. In short: seminary crash course. This is not just for students, but it’s for anyone who’s interested… parents, siblings, even alumni. Register with the code PARENT2025. You can register here: https://lastingimpact.info/product/club23864/.

Here are some of the things we’ll discuss:

– Why is there so much overlap between Matthew, Mark, and Luke? How could they possibly remember word for word what Jesus said to them?

– When should we interpret Scriptures literally or figuratively? 

– Why do 1 & 2 Kings tell the exact same stories 1 & 2 Chronicles do?

– How do we deal with the transgenderism argument that some people are born “intersex,” with both genitalia?

– What is the point of including the minor prophets in Scripture?

– Where in the Bible does it say that women cannot be pastors, if the word “pastor” only shows up once?

And MANY other things. If you enjoyed last semester, this one will be even better.

This has been my project for the last two years while in school for seminary. Trying to distill important things you never hear about if you don’t go to seminary into a single semester-long course! This information you are bound to use in your Apologetics rounds, but more importantly life! I would love for any of you to join, again, even if you’re graduated. It’s for everyone—and it starts TODAY! Don’t miss out!

You can register here: https://lastingimpact.info/product/club23864/.

Ethan will be receiving his Masters of Divinity from Truett Theological Seminary in December of 2025. He attended Hillsdale College, where he graduated in the top ten of his class. He has been a Lasting Impact! coach for over three years.

Discover Your Voice: Join Our Online Speech & Debate Clubs

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Are you ready to sharpen your speaking skills, think faster on your feet, and have fun while learning? This fall, we are excited to launch a series of online speech and debate clubs designed to help students of all experience levels grow, compete, and explore their potential. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your skills to the next level, these clubs provide a multi-week, supportive environment to improve, practice, and succeed.

Here’s what we have lined up for the 1st Semester 2025-26:

  • Speech 101 & Speech 102 – Perfect for beginners and those looking to polish foundational skills. You’ll learn how to craft a compelling speech, use your voice effectively, and engage any audience. These classes build confidence, structure, and technique—essential skills whether you’re speaking in class or preparing for competition.
  • Apol Club with Ethan Tong – Dive into the world of Apologetics and sharpen your ability to think critically, argue persuasively, and defend ideas with clarity. This club encourages intellectual curiosity and the confidence to present complex ideas in a thoughtful way. And in case you haven’t heard – it’s FREE!
  • Fall LD Club with Ethan Tong – Lincoln-Douglas debate is all about persuasion, evidence, and ethics. In this multi-week club, students will analyze cases, practice argumentation, and learn strategies that make them compelling speakers and sharp thinkers.
  • Moot Court Caselaw Club with Ethan Tong – Step into the courtroom in this exciting exploration of legal reasoning and argumentation. Students will review real cases, prepare briefs, and practice delivering oral arguments—developing skills in logic, rhetoric, and critical thinking that go far beyond the debate stage.
  • Extemp Club with Roman Hogancamp – Learn to think on your feet in current events extemporaneous speaking. This club teaches students how to quickly analyze topics, organize their thoughts, and present concise, persuasive speeches—all while staying informed and confident.
  • Interp / Drama Club – Explore storytelling, performance, and character interpretation. Students will work on monologues, scenes, and interpretive pieces, enhancing voice, body language, and emotional impact in both performance and competitive settings.

Each of these clubs lasts throughout the first semester, giving students time to practice, grow, and see real improvement. Unlike one-time webinar or workshop, our clubs allow for consistent feedback, skill-building exercises, and a chance to develop lasting relationships with fellow students who are equally passionate about speech and debate.

Whether your goal is to gain confidence speaking in front of others, compete successfully, or simply enjoy the art of communication, there’s a club here for you. Plus, the online format means you can join from the comfort of home while still engaging in interactive, collaborative learning.

Spots are limited, so don’t wait! Join us this fall and take your skills to the next level. Your voice is powerful—let’s make sure it’s heard. Go to the SHOP NOW and sign up!

Why Moot? By: Ethan Tong

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Moot Court is alive! After NCFCA decided to discontinue the activity this past year, a few parents and I started the High School Moot Court Association (HSMCA) to facilitate continued Moot competition. You can find more information at our website, hsmca.org.

We started by getting a team together, and we got the best of the best. We have last year’s head of ballot admin, last year’s judge recruiter, a tournament staffer, one of the NCFCA packet writers and editors, two decorated alumni, a practicing attorney, a financial advisor, and myself on the nine-person board. 

Then we filed for 501(c)(3) status, and then started doing all the small things that it takes to get a league off the ground: designing a logo; building roles and job descriptions; budgeting; planning a tournament platform; marketing; website design; designing a rulebook. 

And at long last, we’re approaching the finish line of the start-up process. But getting the league off the ground is really just step one. The second step is getting students and families involved. So… why should your family be involved in Moot Court? Three reasons come to mind. 

Continue reading “Why Moot? By: Ethan Tong” →

Opinion – NCFCA TP Cognitive Bias? And TP Camp THIS WEEK! by Roman Hogancamp

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Almost everyone I have talked to supports and likes the upcoming NCFCA Team Policy resolution, which addresses reforming Congress. It is because of this overwhelming affirmation, however, I began to realize there may be a slight problem: judge bias. This became exceptionally clear when I started writing a case that tackled term limits. While writing this case, I found a statistic stating that 83 percent of the population supports term limits! This made me realize the vast majority of judges are going enter the round with bias in favor of the Affirmative team. Think about it for a moment… How many people have you spoken with do not think Congress needs to be reformed—in at least one way or another? My guess is most everyone will agree Congress is in need of change. So, what can we do about it? In this article, we are going to examine two primary forms of judge bias and the strategies that play into these biases, we are going to talk about how to counter these biases, and finally, I am going to invite you to join Ethan Tong and I July 31-August 1 for the Lasting Impact Online Team Policy Debate Camp, where we will tackle this issue and so many more! If you haven’t signed up, please plan on doing so through the Lasting Impact website here… or keep reading Roman’s opinion below….

Jump Start TP Debate Online Camp
Continue reading “Opinion – NCFCA TP Cognitive Bias? And TP Camp THIS WEEK! by Roman Hogancamp” →

Join Lasting Impact! Apologetics Club! By: Ethan Tong

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Join our Apol Club starting TOMORROW!! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club23482/

My hope is that this Apol Club will change the way you think about Apologetics. Not because I espouse a new, heretical position, but because I treat topics as part of a broader whole. When we talk about inspiration, I don’t students to just answer with the wrote “yes, the Bible is inspired because 1 Timothy says all Scripture is God-breathed.” I will be discussing the entire topic of the Bible’s writing: Did God speak every single word into the writer’s ears like a person speaking through a Bluetooth earbud? Is that really what we have to believe? On the other hand––did he simply put the idea of a topic in the writer’s mind? How can we trust that the words are what God meant it to say, then?

When it comes to even the most basic questions about God, like “Is God loving?”, I seek to draw a picture of God rather than answer each question. God isn’t a human who has certain features or emotions. Every aspect of God is an overflow of who he is. Therefore, he’s not “loving,” he is love itself! He’s not righteous, he’s righteousness itself! God’s attributes are not choices God made––they are integral to who he is as the “greatest possible being” (as St. Anselm says it).

This is just a sneak peek into what Apol Club will look like. Many students have told me that this club revolutionized the way they think about God and about their spiritual life. One student wrote to me this past fall that I’ve helped him become more motivated to read his Bible! 

I hope many of you will join this club. Ever since joining seminary in Fall of 2023, I’ve been passionate to share my new thoughts with people who have only ever seen a fraction of what the Bible is.

I believe, we are doing a disservice if we treat Apol like a chance to “prove our knowledge.” 1 Corinthians 8:1 says that knowledge puffs up! What builds up? Love. We need to speak on these topics with a heart for those whom God dearly loves––which is all people.

It will be life-changing to hear theology addressed as a larger whole rather than as just discrete topics on a paper card. And it’s all just $75––about $5 per session! Please, come and join!! Apol Club is not just for students who are competing in a speech category… it’s for all who want to understand deeper what you believe, how to articulate your thoughts, grow in the Word, and so much more!

Reflections on 2024 Moot Court Nationals and Why You Should Sign Up for Moot Camp by: Ethan Tong

Posted on by Heather Neumann

The last time Nationals was held at Anderson University was 2019, my senior year. That year, my Moot partner and I had aspirations of making the final round. We had fully memorized our speeches and were the top seed at a previous National Open.

But when breaks were announced, the team of EJ Rorem and Ethan Tong wasn’t announced. As we’d later find out, we went 3-5 (there used to be 4 rounds with 2 judges each). Though we both got Oral Advocate awards later that week, it was a small consolation. We wanted to be in finals. And that was our last chance… (Keep reading to find out what I learned at Moot Court Nationals and why you should try Moot…)

Continue reading “Reflections on 2024 Moot Court Nationals and Why You Should Sign Up for Moot Camp by: Ethan Tong” →

Ready, Set, (Speech and Debate) Summer!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Can you believe it’s mid-June? Can you believe I have had coaching sessions already for fall 2023?! I’m not going to lie- I love summer prep! I love the enthusiasm that comes with tackling new resolutions, speech ideas, and the inspiration that comes from simply seeking His will.

Are you feeling ready for what the new speech and debate season has in store? If you are feeling unequipped, unsettled, or uninspired – join Lasting Impact! to get energized!!

Online Summer Camps! 

In Person Summer Camps!

One on One Coaching! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/services/ 

  • There’s nothing like a coaching session to give you accountability for the summer! 

Over 400 Articles!

  • Look through all our past articles to see what past coaches, competitors, even National Champions wanted to share with us!

New! Limited Prep Guide! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15091/ 

  • The latest Lasting Impact! Resource full of beginner, intermediate, and advanced tips to help you grow in your limited prep speaking. Including Impromptu, Mars Hill, Extemporaneous, and Apologetics.

Books and Resources!

And don’t forget Fall Clubs are right around the corner… sign up now! Space is limited! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ 

  • Speech 101 with Heather Neumann
  • Speech 102 with Heather Neumann
  • Interp Club with Heather Neumann and Lynda DePasacreda
  • Limited Prep with Ethan Tong
  • Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz
  • LD Fundamentals with Hillary and Nathanael Kolssak 
  • LD Strategies with Ethan Tong
  • Intermediate LD with Peter Montgomery 
  • LD Roundtable with Noah McKay
  • TP Foundations with Emalyn George
  • Advanced TP with Eric Meinerding 
  • Extemp Roundtable 

We can’t wait to see you again, meet for the first time, come alongside you and GROW, EQUIP, INSPIRE, and IMPACT! As always, we are cheering you on, and remember- you got this… cuz He’s got you!

Summer Speech and Debate Prep With Us!

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Ok- maybe we are a bit premature! Some of you haven’t been to your National Championship, yet! But REGISTRATION IS GOING ON NOW! Lasting Impact! aims to empower students with the skills of effective communication and teamwork through the avenues of debate and public speaking. Check out what you can sign up for by going to the SHOP ( https://lastingimpact.info/shop/ )or read the list below…

  • In Person Camps! The Impact! Tour is topping at over 10 locations from HI to FL! We love partnering with clubs and are excited to bring energy and fun and quality coaching to your home town! We still have some dates available, if your state isn’t on the list, contact us!
  • Summer Sessions! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15065/ We added something new to the mix this year! Online weekly encouragement to boost students, parents, coaches, and clubs! Every Monday night for ten weeks we will dig into the topics you want to hear about. We’ve invited special guests, as well as our coaches for you to hear the latest ideas and inspiration. Sessions include…
  • How to get started in Speech and Debate 
  • Overview of Resolutions 
  • How to Research 
  • Picking Topics
  • The Ins and Outs of Expository or Digital Presentations 
  • Purposeful Practicing 
  • Running Clubs/Club Leading
  • And More!

No time for summer prep!? We have that covered too! Fall classes and clubs are filling up! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ And more classes will be added! Classes include…

  • Debate Readiness 
  • Speech 101
  • Speech 102
  • Fundamentals of LD
  • Fundamentals of Limited Prep
  • TP Basics
  • And More!

We, at Lasting Impact! have a passion for the Art of Communication! We are excited for what the Lord has in store for young people, and want to help them understand the value and power they have to IMPACT and inspire! If you aren’t seeing something you want contact heather@lastingimpact.info

BIG NEWS! Lasting Impact! Tournament in St. Louis – Coolidge Cup Qualifier

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Lasting Impact! is excited to announce our partnership with Coolidge Cup 2023! Lasting Impact! will be hosting the Impact! at the ARCH Tournament in St. Louis, December 19-20, 2022! The top SIX carefully selected debaters will be chosen to receive invitations to compete in the Coolidge Cup 2023! Battle it out to secure your place in the Coolidge Cup in St. Louis by debating in Parliamentary Debate! Parli Debate is a limited prep style of debate, where resolutions are released prior to the beginning of each round.

What is the Coolidge Cup Tournament?

The Coolidge Cup is an annually held tournament through July 2-4, where speech and debate students across America come together to compete nationally for scholarships totaling $15,000. Sponsored and hosted by The Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation, the Coolidge Cup offers a unique opportunity for America’s Youth to grow in their Speech and Debate skills and also gain essential life skills, such as following guidelines, working with others, and putting their skills to use. To Compete in the Coolidge Cup, debaters must receive a personal invitation to the event. Invitations are received by competing in qualifying tournaments where limited amounts of invitations are available. Competitors participating in the Coolidge Cup will receive financial aid for travel, hotel, and food costs. For more information on The Coolidge Cup click here. 

For Registration and more info – https://impactatthearch.homeschooldebate.net/ Registration begins Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 at 9am CT. We do expect this tournament to fill up! Questions? Contact – heather@lastingimpact.info

https://impactatthearch.homeschooldebate.net/

Introducing – Ziggy+Lasting Impact! 2021 National Debate Championship!!! Sign Up NOW

Posted on by Heather Neumann

Lasting Impact! and Ziggy are joining forces to create an epic Debate Championship to close out the 2021 season! I know you will have questions… so let’s get them started!

1. Why are Ziggy and Lasting Impact! teaming up? It’s always awesome to collaborate with like-minded organizations and friends. We love coming together and collaborating and giving families opportunities to engage in speech and debate opportunities.

2. What are your goals? We want to see students growing, and continuing to hone their debate skills whether they are attending NCFCA Nationals or not. This also continues to give judges the opportunity to fill out ballots and give more feedback. Essentially, it’s that feedback that can help students to think critically, analyze their thought process, and make decisions on what needs to be said, or what does not. And let’s not under estimate the power of practice!

3. Who is the Ziggy + Lasting Impact! National Championship for? You did not need to make it to Nationals to compete in this unique debate event. Not all of the top competitors will make it to Nationals. Iron sharpens iron. Use this for the opportunity to grow for next season, or use this as your last hoorah, or use this event to test out your cases!

4. Will there be a case list? Students will have the option to disclose the TP case they are running during signup, but do not have to do so. We encourage teams to share what case(s) they are running, though, as we believe this enhances the quality of rounds! Per Ziggy Rule 2(a)(ii), Aff TP teams will need to send a copy of their case to the Negative team upon request during the round.

5. Will there be prizes? Yes, of course! More details soon!

6. Why the weekly/5 day format? Easy. Flexibility!! We wanted something easy and flexible for you to commit to.

7. What is the cost? Early bird is only $30 per person. Sign up now!

8. How do you sign up?

https://www.ziggyonlinedebate.us/sign-up/tournaments.htmli

Be sure to check out all the rules at www.ziggyonlinedebate.us On behalf of Ziggy and Lasting Impact! we hope you will join us!