Dana Watt

Dana Watt is a freshman neuroscience major at Carthage College in Kenosha, WI. Although her academic progress has led her to a spot on the Dean's List and an invitation to the National Freshman Honor fraternity Alpha Lambda Delta, her greatest accomplishments have been in high school and college debate.

Dana's high school debate career spanned four years, and was met with early success. After winning numerous awards at both the local and national levels her Novice and Junior Varsity years, she won her varsity district tournament her junior year, qualifying her for the national championship. Her senior year, she was elected team Captain, and watched debaters on her team win their own awards, including finalist awards at their respective state tournaments. She qualified for elimination rounds at the prestigious Harvard national tournament. Her four competitive years made her skilled at case writing, card cutting, public speaking, thinking on her feet, and teaching other debaters how to succeed.

She continued her success at debate in college, joining the Carthage Parliamentary debate team. As part of the Pi Kappa Delta circuit, her teams have won finalist awards at both the Marquette University and Webster University tournaments, and have made elimination rounds at a number of other competitions. She has won numerous individual speaking awards at such tournaments, and her team plans to expand into more competitive circuits next year, as well as continue its success in Pi Kappa Delta. Her Parliamentary experience has continued to hone her public speaking and quick thinking skills, and has also taught her invaluable lessons in policymaking and argument structure. She will compete in both Parliamentary and Lincoln-Douglas debate on the college circuit in upcoming years.