Thank you for your interest in STA. Below is a general overview of our club
subject to changes as new information arises.
Important Dates
Labor Day Weekend: Kick-Off Picnic
Labor Day Weekend: Registration Form due
Labor Day Weekend: STA tuition due
November 1: STA T-shirt sponsors forms and donations due
December 1: STA Advent Wreath and Candle funds due
January: STA Mock Tournament in Steubenville
February - May: Monthly CCA Travel Tournaments
Memorial Day Weekend: End-of-Year Picnic
Speech and Debate Classes Location
Classes are usually held at Franciscan University of
Steubenville on Mondays after Labor Day weekend. Classes are generally twice a month,
and a calendar would be emailed as soon as we receive
confirmation. As always, parents are welcome to join any and
all classes.
Varsity Speech and Debate Classes
2026 Head Coach: Mr. David Gray
Varsity Division (Ages thirteen to eighteen years old by
January 1st, 2027)
Varsity Debate: 3:15 pm - 5:15pm
Varsity Speech and Debate Classes
2026 Coach: Mrs. Jacqueline Gray
Varsity Division (Ages thirteen to eighteen years old by
January 1st, 2027)
Varsity Speech: 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Junior Varsity and Junior Classes
2026 Coach: Ms. Katherine Gray
Junior or Junior Varsity students (Ages five to twelve years
old by January 1st 2027)
Class Times: 5:30 - 6:30pm
JV/Jr students must NOT come early without an adult to watch
and stay with them. They should arrive no earlier than 5:20pm. If
possible, please have an adult escort the JV/Jr students to and from their
classrooms.
Parents Class Involvement
We are asking all parents to sign up to sit in on Varsity
and JV/Jr classes. FUS policy requires two adults to be in
class at all times. I understand that many moms will still have little
ones to take care of during class times. If need be, you are welcome to bring
your little ones with you.
We really can't have the class being loud and crazy since
there will be other FUS classes going on in classrooms in that building.
The signup calendar will be posted when the class schedule
is released.
Also, if you are interested in leading a class or teaching a
particular speech, please reach out to David Gray (davidgray4518@gmail.com).
Tuition & Financial Transactions
Treasurer: Paul Wherry (wherrypa@gmail.com)
Tuition Deadline: August 24
The tuition per student and maximum tuition per family are
as follows:
Maximum tuition per family with at least one varsity student
is $400 and the maximum tuition per family with only Junior/Junior Varsity
students is $200.
All STA-related Payment Options are as follows
STA Fundraiser
Fundraising efforts to offset families' tournament travel
expenses raised more than $4000 last year for the club. The opportunity
to fundraise is a benefit of our club's 501(c)(3) status. All families
are welcome to participate but they are not mandatory.
This year we will offer two fundraiser opportunities, the
STA T-Shirt Fundraiser and the STA Advent Wreath and Candle Fundraiser.
Families will receive benefits only from the respective fundraiser that they participate in. For example, if a
family only participates in the T-Shirt Fundraiser but not the Advent Wreath
and Candle Fundraiser, they will only share in the T-shirt Fundraiser s
pool but not the Advent Wreath and Candle Fundraiser s. And vice versa.
However, if a family participates in both, they will receive the proceeds from
both.
Please reach out to me if there are additional fundraising
activities you would like to lead on behalf of our
club.
STA T-Shirt Fundraiser
2026 Lead: Dave Brooks (davebrooks868@gmail.com)
Deadline: November 1
Participation requirement: secure at least one sponsor ($250)
or raise a cumulative amount of $250 through various donations.
STA Advent Wreath and Candle Fundraiser
Deadline: December 1 (all funds submitted to our treasurer,
Paul Wherry)
Participation requirement: Sign up for required number of
volunteer hours
Hotel and Accommodation Coordination
In the years past, we had a lead who helped place holds at
hotels for each of the four CCA Tournaments. However, we have found that the
savings we would have had through this process is similar to that as if you had booked the room when the
tournament dates were first released as opposed to waiting for confirmation
from the hotel booking staff. As such, we have decided to do away with
this process and not tie up valuable time. Instead, when the tournament dates
are released, Michael and I would book our hotel accommodations
and any families who wish to join us at the hotel are welcomed
to do so. This gives families wishing to eat, pray, and socialize with one another may more easily do so.
If you are unsure of which tournament you wish to
participate in, I recommend booking the hotel room as soon as possible anyway
because most hotels offer no penalty if cancellation occurs within 24-72hrs
before arrival. Please check with respective hotels their cancellation policy and also if your rate is refundable.
As always, each family is responsible for their own lodging
and may book accommodations as they wish.
Tournament Schedule
Our February - May tournament schedule is determined by the CCA.
These dates have typically been announced in late October or early
November.
This past year s tournaments were:
February - Plainfield Bible Church, 752 S Dan
Jones Rd, Plainfield, IN 46168
March - Ohio Christian University, 1476
Lancaster Pike Circleville, OH, 43113
April - Northwood University, 4000 Whiting
Drive, Midland, Michigan 48640
May - Patterson Park Church, 3655 E Patterson Rd
Beavercreek, OH, 45430
The club typically hosts a mock tournament in January in
Steubenville to prepare for the season.
Families are free to participate in the number tournaments
they wish.
Tournament Parent Involvement
For all tournaments, any family with a speech student needs
to provide at least one parent judging speech - those with two or more speech
students need two parents judging speech. Any family with one debate student
needs at least one parent judging debate - those with two or more debate
students need two parents judging debate. Families may recruit guest judges,
anyone who is 18 years of age or older and/or a
high school graduate, to meet quota.
Thank You
Please do not hesitate to reach out should you have any additional questions.