Armstrong senior Khloe Lim named Speech and Debate Academic All-American

Feelings of accomplishment and happiness filled Khloe Lim, a senior at Armstrong High School (AHS), when she learned she had received an Academic All-American Award from the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA), joining an elite group of student leaders nationwide.

“It was a very full circle moment of appreciation for all of the work I’ve put into this activity throughout high school,” shared Lim, who is competing in Congressional Debate and Original Oratory for her fourth and final year.

The Academic All-American Award recognizes students who achieve excellence through a combination of academic performance, leadership, service, and integrity within the speech and debate community. Fewer than one percent of students nationwide earn this distinction each year. 

“What I enjoy most about speech is the self-expression and how creative students can get with it,” said Lim. “What I enjoy most about debate is educating myself on real-world issues and opening my mind to new perspectives.”

Lim is an active leader in the AHS community as the co-president of Student Council, president of the AHS National Honor Society, a peer mentor, a member of the Superintendent Student Advisory Council, and a member of the Yearbook Club. She is also in the process of reviving the student career club known as SPARK. Looking ahead to her post-graduation plans, she plans to major in a humanities field to pursue a future career in law.

Outside of AHS, she has been pursuing independent music endeavors since eighth grade. “I believe that speech and debate played a massive role in breaking down my fear of performing and ultimately pushed me out into the world of music in the best possible way,” said Lim.

This year also marks the 11th consecutive year that at least one Robbinsdale Area Schools student has been named an NSDA Academic All-American—a southern Minnesota district record that few schools can claim.

Founded in 1925, the NSDA is the largest interscholastic speech and debate organization in the United States, with more than 141,000 student members and roughly 2 million alumni.