Almos receives Mundt Award

This Deuel senior has participated in Debate since her freshman year, and will be receiving the honorable Mundt Award. This senior is the Debate extraordinaire, Kjirstin Almos.

Almos receiving the Mundt Award is the main topic of discussion. The Mundt Award is for Lincoln-Douglas debators. This award is given to four South Dakota seniors every year and voted on by the debate community in South Dakota. It is typically given to National Qualifiers, but anyone who did well in debate and who the debate community thinks is deserving of the award is also susceptible to receiving the award, although Almos is a National Qualifier. The award is given to those who have done well in debate for most of their careers rather than having a good season one time or having a really outstanding tournament once. The Mundt Award will be given to Almos on April 15th, in Pierre. The fifteenth through the sixteenth of April is State Student Congress, and every year on the evening of the first day there is an National Forensics League (NFL) Award Banquet. All debate awards are distributed, including the Mundt Award, during this banquet.

Almos participates in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate, which is why she was able to receive the Mundt Award. LD is a one-on-one debate about philosophy, morals, and ethics. "The topics of LD tend to focus more on whether or not something should be done in a moral sense" Almos said. LDers argue if something should be done or not be done because of moral rightness, instead of deciding whether or not something should happen based on advantages/disadvantages or creating a plan to solve the problem and fighting to support the plan. The debaters must be ready to debate both sides, either affirmative or negative, so they must be prepared and quick on their feet. Almos also does an individual event of original oratory, which is where she writes her own speech and delivers that same speech each meet throughout the season.

Kjirstin will really miss Lincoln-Douglas debate next year! "I've learned so much from debate. It's insane, mainly I think I've learned how to read and understand difficult information, organize my thoughts, think on my feet, persuade people effectively, communicate better, the list goes on," Almos said. She adds, "debate's probably taught me tons of things that I don't even realize yet!" Almos would encourage people to participate in debate because "it is a fun event where you can meet some of the most amazing people who become some of the greatest friends you'll ever have, and debate makes it possible for each and every person to do things they never thought possible." Almos is still undecided as to where she will be attending college, but she plans to major in English and History wherever she goes!