ABERDEEN, S.D. (Press Release)

Aberdeen Central High School senior Breanna Wollman has been selected as a top 6 finalist for National Student of the Year by the National Speech and Debate Association.

Wollman has been a member of the nationally ranked CHS Speech and Debate Team since her freshman year. She is this year’s South Dakota Speech and Debate LD State Champion, and the Oratory State Champion the past two years. Wollman is also South Dakota’s first ever Bezos Scholar, one of 12 selected out of more than 12,000 applicants nationwide.

In his nomination letter, Coach Kerry Konda said Wollman’s “infectious personality and empathy has made her a unifier.”

“She believes in the power of speech and debate to transform lives and communities,” he said.

Wollman has organized projects that have benefited her fellow students and her community. That includes leading an initiative to create 125 personal protective kits for the local domestic violence shelter during the pandemic; co-spearheading Project Red, which raised over $2,500 worth of period products; and, as a Bezos Scholar, implementing the Golden Eagle Outreach community service program.

“Breanna’s impact in our community is visible everywhere, because she used her voice, worked hard, and refused to be not heard,” Konda said. “She is an advocate for the power of what forensics can do for a student and community.”

About the Aberdeen Public School District:

The Aberdeen Public School District provides a comprehensive educational program to approximately 4,200 students in grades K-12, with a mission of empowering all students to succeed in a changing world. Our students receive the knowledge and skills necessary to reach their potential in a global community through high expectations of academic achievement; diverse educational opportunities; and community involvement in a safe, supportive environment. Learn more at aberdeen.k12.sd.us.