Two members of the Baltimore City College Speech and Debate Society made history by nabbing a national title this week, winning the National Catholic Forensics League (NCFL) Championship.
Baltimore City College’s (BCC) Policy Debate team of Nevaeh Rita Sencion and Saidah Ervin (’24) earned the title of National Champions at the NCFL Grand National Tournament in Chicago. They are the first team of African American women to win the competition’s policy debate tournament. The title win caps their high school careers with a 3-2 victory against Peninsula, which was ranked the top team in the nation.
“Saidah and I worked really hard – but it wouldn’t have happened without our team, community, coaches, family, and friends who pushed us to be the best versions of ourselves and supported us these past four years,” Sencion said in a statement. “Everything I do is for the small Black girl that was told that she talks too much and that the world had no place for her to talk.”
“I feel incredibly grateful and honored to be the champions. We’ve had an incredible senior year that is the perfect culmination of all the hard work we have put in going back to middle school. And I think this signifies a new opportunity for debate to continue giving Black people their accolades,” Ervin said in a statement.
Ervin and Sencion finished the 2023-24 season third at the Tournament of Champions which is the premier debate tournament in the nation. In addition to seeing to their own preparation for debates, the pair helps underclassmen prepare for their debates, and the freshmen members won numerous tournaments this year.
“The success of these young leaders reflects the work ethic of the entire team,” said Patrick S. Daniels, Director of Speech and Debate at City College, in a statement. “These accomplishments represent a debate family at BCC—a family that is over 150 years old. I’m proud of these young leaders and look forward to their future success.”
“We believe that through the activity of Policy Debate, we can begin to fundamentally change the way that the poor and disenfranchised are viewed within society,” Daniels said. “I am incredibly proud of these students and will continue to be even prouder as they represent their school and community.”
Ervin and Sencion have each earned full scholarships to their chosen colleges: Ervin will attend the University of Kentucky and Sencion will attend Wake Forest University.
“This wonderful accomplishment is a tribute to the amazing hard work, dedication and discipline of Saidah and Rita, every member of the Speech & Debate team and Coach Daniels,” said Joseph Sandler, board member of BCC, in a statement. “I know how proud my father would be were he here to see the program achieve this milestone.”
Baltimore City College is the third oldest high school in the United States, established in 1839. It was an all-male school until 1979, when it became co-ed. In 2023 it boasted a 93% college acceptance rate and over $51 million in college scholarships.
The school has graduated icons in multiple disciplines, like the late U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings (’69); former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke (’67); new owner of the Baltimore Orioles David Rubenstein (’66); composer Philip Glass (’54); actor, singer, and Tony Award nominee André DeShields; and now the history making debate team of Ervin and Sencion.
Congratulations ladies!!! You make us proud!
Carla Boyd, Esq.
BCC Class of ’82
City Forever!! Thanks for supporting our kids! https://bcf.org/fund/sandl/
They couldn’t debate their way out of a paper bag. They are a disgrace.
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