Mount Pleasant High School juniors Connelly Cowan and Taylor Hubbs have earned the National Speech and Debate Association’s Academic All-American award. Of the more than 141,000 student members of the Association, fewer than 1,000 students earn the Academic All-American Award every year. To date, only ten team members from MPHS have ever earned this prestigious honor.

The Academic All-American award recognizes students who have completed at least five semesters of high school, earned the degree of Superior Distinction in the National Speech and Debate Association Honor Society (a total of 750 or more merit points), have at least a 3.7 GPA, and have demonstrated outstanding character and leadership.

Cowan, the daughter of Collin and Kelly Cowan, is a five-year member of Mount Pleasant Speech and Debate and serves as the Team Captain. She competes in Cross-Examination Debate, Congressional Debate and Extemporaneous Speaking. She is a 5-time UIL state medalist, a 3-time qualifier for the Texas Forensics Association State tournament, a 2021 NIETOC qualifier, a
3-time National Qualifier, and a 2021 qualifier to the Extemp Tournament of Champions.

Hubbs, the daughter of Brandon Hubbs and Angelia Morris, is a 3-year member of Mount Pleasant Speech and Debate and competes in Cross-Examination Debate, Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Extemporaneous Speaking. She is a 2-time qualifier for the Texas Forensic State tournament and a 2-time National Qualifier.

Mount Pleasant High School Speech and Debate is coached by Enrique Martinez.

Photo left to right: Taylor Hubbs and Connelly Cowan