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CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOL SPEECH AND DEBATE
NITOC AWARDS
Founders Award
The Stoa Board created an award for presentation at NITOC that recognizes the contribution of Mr. Scott York and his fellow Stoa Founders for their pioneering efforts in bringing Stoa into existence.
The Founders Award will be presented to students at NITOC who have received invitations and have competed in at least one event from each of the following five categories:
1. Interpretive Speeches
Dramatic Interp
Duo Interp
Humorous Interp
Open Interp
2. Limited Preparation Speeches
Apologetics
Extemporaneous Speaking
Mars Hill
Impromptu
3. Platform Speeches
Expository Speaking
Original Oratory
Persuasive Speaking
4. Wildcard
Slam Poetry
5. Debate
Lincoln Douglas Value Debate
Parliamentary Debate
Team Policy Debate
The Founders Award is not based on how a student performs at NITOC, but honors students competing at NITOC in the full breadth of events offered by Stoa.
The Mike Winther Award
In November 2021, Mike Winther, one of the great leaders of the Stoa community, was transferred from the Church Militant to the Church Triumphant. A man of unwavering faith, Mike served the Stoa community from its inception. In addition to serving the Debate Committee for many years, he served on the Stoa Board of Directors from 2017 to 2021 and coached the Modesto Debate club with his wife Mary for nearly 25 years. We will always remember Mike as a man of God’s Word, a man of integrity, a man of wisdom, a man of kindness, and a man of prayer.
To honor Mike’s memory, the Stoa Board of Directors, in 2022, established the Mike Winther Award. The award recognizes excellence in character as demonstrated in Student Leadership, Civic involvement, and the understanding of the Biblical role of government.
Eligibility
All graduating seniors currently enrolled in Stoa are eligible to apply for the Mike Winther Award.
Nomination and Application Process
1. Nomination: The student must be nominated by an adult (student’s parent or another parent/coach in the league) within Stoa no later than April 10, 2026.
The nomination must include:
● A paragraph on why the student should be considered for the award
● The student’s contact information (name, phone number, email address)
● The parent’s contact information (name, phone number, email address)
● The nominating adult’s contact information (name, title, phone number, email address)
All nominations must be submitted via email to the Mike Winther Award Selection Committee at: themwaward@gmail.com.
Important: It is the nominating adult’s responsibility to inform the student of the nomination and advise him/her of the student requirements and deadlines.
2. Student Application: The nominated student must submit his/her own application no later than May 1, 2026.
The student application must include:
● A brief paragraph describing the student’s forensics involvement and qualifications for the award.
● A 5-minute video speech on the 2026 topic: “What is the biblical role of government in immigration?” Memorization is highly encouraged, but notes may be used. All applications must be submitted via email to: themwaward@gmail.com.
3. Letters of Recommendation: Each application requires two letters of recommendation in support of the candidate. Recommenders should email their letters directly to: themwaward@gmail.com.
● Student character: This letter should be on the student’s character. This must be from a pastoral reference and should include his/her title.
● Student leadership: This letter must explain student leadership regarding mentoring or training in forensics within their club or community. This can be from a club parent or community member and should include his/her title.
Selection Criteria
The Mike Winther Award recognizes excellence in character, leadership, civic involvement, and an understanding of the Biblical role of government. The award committee will select a winner based on the student’s application, the 5-minute video speech, and two letters of recommendation. Speeches will be evaluated for both content and presentation. A winning speech need not support any particular policy position but must demonstrate a strong grasp of the subject matter and an ability to analyze and articulate the Biblical role of government within the context of the topic.
Deadlines
Nominations Deadline: April 10, 2026
Application and Reference Letters must be submitted by: May 1, 2026
Award
The Mike Winther Award Trophy and $1,000 prize money will be awarded at the NITOC Awards Ceremony. Along with the Stoa award and prize money, the Institute for Principle Studies (IPS) will award the winner of the Mike Winther Award a 4-to-6-week remote, paid internship with IPS. This could either be used in the calendar year in which the student wins the award or during the following calendar year and mutually agreed upon by IPS and the winning student. Internship responsibilities may include research, writing, reading, office help, conference and event help, project development, including helping with the Logos Forensics Association and other entities. The intern will also receive training and instruction on the Biblical view of government and economics from the IPS staff.
Contact Information
For questions, please contact the Mike Winther Award Selection Committee at themwaward@gmail.com.
The Stoa Servant Heart Award
Beginning in the 2020–2021 season, the Stoa Board of Directors provided recognition to both individuals and clubs growing in their character and speaking skills through the Servant Heart Award. We hope this award will inspire all Stoa students and clubs to reach out and share their skills to “change the world for Christ.” Some ideas for serving include:
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Offer free speech or debate workshops
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Entertain at nursing homes
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Speak at organization meetings
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Visit shut-ins
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Evangelize or engage in other acts of kindness within your community, city, state, nation, or the world
How can you get involved?
Identify a service opportunity you or your club can participate in that uses public speaking skills…and start serving! Then document your experience through pictures or videos.
Here is the process:
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Participate in a service opportunity that uses your speaking skills.
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Create a 3–5 minute video explaining whom you help, how you use the skills learned in Stoa, and the short- and long-term impact of the service. You can create a video compilation of varied clips, a single video recording, or multiple photos with voice-over. Be creative!
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A fellow club leader or a club parent needs to nominate each club award participant. Any Stoa coach, parent, alumni, or fellow Stoa student can nominate an individual award participant.
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The nominator must submit the Servant Heart video and include the name of the nominated individual or club, and their own name.
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Each individual shown in the video must submit a video release form.
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Submissions are due by March 31, 2026, and we will announce the winner(s) at NITOC.
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Please submit videos and release forms to servantheart@stoausa.org.
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The Stoa Executive Director and the Stoa Board will evaluate each individual or club video on the following criteria:
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Positive, Christ-like impact
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Use of speaking skills
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Overall community outreach
At NITOC, the individual and club award recipients will receive stage recognition. The Stoa Board will also evaluate and determine overall winners selected from the monthly award recipients. Overall individual and club winners will each receive a certificate, a cash award, and a Servant Heart trophy.
We encourage you to be creative with your selection of opportunities and in your submission. Think about the impact your words and actions have on those around you and how you can use your gifts and talents to serve your community. We look forward to seeing your submissions!
If you have any questions, please contact Lynda Sloneker at servantheart@stoausa.org.