NSDA National Speech & Debate Tournament
Largest academic competition in the world, organized by the National Speech & Debate Association. 2026 tournament held in June in Richmond, Virginia (Altria Theater, Greater Richmond Convention Center, area high schools). To compete, students must be NSDA members with at least 25 honor-society points and qualify through district tournaments.
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National High School Mock Trial Championship
Annual national mock trial tournament; only the winning team from each state, territory, or country qualifies. 2026 nationals: May 7-9 in Des Moines, Iowa. To compete, students join their state's mock trial program through their high school team and win at the state level.
CHSAA Speech & Debate State Championships
Colorado High School Activities Association's annual state speech and debate tournaments (3A, 4A, 5A) covering Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate, Original Oratory, Informative Speaking, Extemporaneous, Interpretation events, and more. Compete for a state title via your high school's team.
9th Circuit Civics Contest
Essay or video contest on "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness," analyzing one core right historically and today.
DECA Competitive Events & International Career Development Conference
Business and marketing competitive events covering nearly 60 role-play, case-study, prepared, and online events across marketing, finance, hospitality, management, entrepreneurship, and personal financial literacy. Top state competitors advance to the International Career Development Conference (2026: Atlanta).
FBLA Competitive Events & National Leadership Conference
Future Business Leaders of America's competitive events span 50+ business and career-related areas (accounting, marketing, public speaking, business plan). Students compete at state conferences, then top placers advance to the National Leadership Conference each summer (2026 NLC: Henry B. González Convention Center, San Antonio).
JEA/NSPA National High School Journalism Convention
The nation's largest gathering of scholastic journalists, held twice yearly by the Journalism Education Association and National Scholastic Press Association, featuring hands-on workshops plus on-site student media contests across newspaper, broadcast, and yearbook.