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WHS's Gutteridge Earns National Donus D. Roberts Coaching Award

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WHS's Gutteridge Earns National Donus D. Roberts Coaching Award
Anna Aguilar

Good news—Sean Gutteridge earned the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award in our Honor Society! 

Receiving the Donus Award is a remarkable achievement and indicates that Sean has earned 10,000 coaching points. Coaches earn one point for every merit point earned by their students through competition, service, and leadership activities. Each point represents hours of practice, revision, and growth for your students and dedicated coaching by Sean.

A diverse group of young people and an older man smile for a photo in front of a textured gray backdrop.

 

Sean would never self-promote, so I'll do it for him! He will be teaching the next batch of amazing students at a summer camp. Get your kids signed up!

– Ishmael Kissinger, Moore HS Debate Coach

 

The image is a colorful and vibrant poster advertising an "Acting Debate Camp" event, featuring various comic book-style elements such as speech bubbles, stars, and a QR code. The background is a mix of bright colors and patterns, while the foreground showcases two figures in suits, likely representing a debate or discussion.

Details on the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award

Coaches receive one point for every merit point earned by their students through competition, service, and leadership activities. Each point represents dedicated coaching and hours of practice, revision, and growth for students. Coaches earn Association membership and advanced standing at the same milestones as students, until they earn 10,000 points and the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award.

The National Speech & Debate Association’s Honor Society (also known as the National Forensic League) recognizes middle school and high school students and coaches for participation in speech and debate activities. Students earn merit points for participation in one of the oldest and most respected honor societies known to college admissions offices.

Members of the Honor Society are held to the Code of Honor, the highest standards of humility, equity, integrity, respect, leadership, and service. Character, personal accountability, and social responsibility have been valued by our organization since our founding in 1925. The Code of Honor reflects the core values of and standards for participation within our organization. Over the past 100 years, we’ve celebrated the honorable actions and achievements of nearly two million alumni.

Members earn merit points through competition, service, and leadership activities. Whether they’re debating in the classroom, volunteering, speaking at a rally, or acting on stage, students use what they learn in speech and debate every day. Merit points reward and encourage members to use their skills to improve their schools and communities.

Points are entered by an advisor or coach with designated permissions via their NSDA Account. The following tables provide examples of point values.

As members earn points they also earn new Honor Society degrees. Degrees recognize progress, provide motivation, and offer distinction. 

While students earn points, so do coaches! Coaches earn the same milestones as students until they earn 10,000 points and the Donus D. Roberts Coaching Excellence Award. Once coaches earn 15,000 points and have been members for at least five years, they will receive their First Diamond Award.