Hilo High Sophomore Sky Bardwell-Jones Wins Second Place at State Speech Tournament Vikings Build on Success After Debate Team’s Strong Showing

Hilo High Sophomore Sky Bardwell-Jones Wins Second Place at State Speech Tournament

Vikings Build on Success After Debate Team’s Strong Showing

HILO, Hawaii (April 12, 2025) — Hilo High School’s Speech & Debate team continued its standout performance at the 2025 Hawaii State Speech Tournament, with sophomore Sky Bardwell-Jones earning second place in the Informative Speech category. The tournament, held at Punahou School on Oahu, marked a significant achievement for Bardwell-Jones, whose win earned her an invitation to the highly competitive National Speech & Debate Tournament in Des Moines this June.

Bardwell-Jones delivered a 10-minute speech on artificial intelligence and the Turing Test, which she wrote, memorized, and performed. “The thing that inspired me the most to pursue Informative Speaking was when I realized I could choose any topic and write my own original script,” Bardwell-Jones said. “Despite juggling debate prep and schoolwork, writing my speech didn’t feel like work. It was the one academic task that truly ignited my passion.”

Bardwell-Jones’ win is especially notable as Hilo High is the only public school from a neighbor island to qualify for the state tournament. The team, led by coaches Elizabeth Laliberte and Amy Baum, faces unique challenges, including the cost of travel and fewer opportunities to practice with other teams.

“We’re a neighbor island public school which means we face obstacles for participating in the Speech and Debate circuit statewide,” Laliberte said. “But our students are smart, motivated, and capable of competing at the highest levels. Sky’s success proves that.”

Laliberte, who founded the team in 2017, emphasized the importance of expanding opportunities for students in rural schools. “We would love to make these opportunities available to more students across the neighbor islands. Whether it’s local judges, practice partners, or help with travel costs, every bit counts. We want more students to have the chance to find their voice through Speech & Debate.”

Bardwell-Jones was joined at this weekend’s tournament by teammates Liliana Randolph and Joy Ridgely, both freshmen, who competed in the Duo Interpretation category. The three speech students, along with three Hilo High debaters, qualified for the state tournament at the Hawai‘i Island District Tournament in March.

“I hope next year more students at Hilo High join Speech & Debate so they can find the same spark that I did,” Bardwell-Jones said. “Whether it’s in interpretive speaking, impromptu, or debate, I believe there’s something in this activity for everyone.”

The Hilo High Speech & Debate team is actively seeking support from the community, including local judges, teams to practice with, and donations to help with travel expenses. To learn more about how to support the team, contact Coach Elizabeth Laliberte at (808) 313-5663 or elizabeth.laliberte@k12.hi.us.