Brentwood Junior Earns NFL's Highest Rank

junior, Dallas Neely, has earned the degree of Premier Distinction, with the National Forensic League. It’s the association’s highest degree of student membership.

The degree reflects sustained excellence in classroom activities, competition rounds, and service projects.

A total of 106 high school students earned the degree of Premier Distinction between February 15, and March 15, placing them among the top half of one percent of NFL student members.

Students may earn points in six separate categories: speech, debate, congress, service, district, and national.

Neely is who competed in the Eastern Missouri National Forensic League District Tournament, March 8-10. He competed in Extemporaneous Speaking.

Neely, and seniors Paige Anderson and Chris Reichert qualified to advance to the national tournament in Indianapolis this summer.

BHS teacher Robyn Haug is the coach of the Brentwood debate team.

Neely sent in the following information about his and others experience on the Brentwood debate team.

There have been many high points to my season. One of the high points of this season definitely was qualifying to the national tournament in Indianapolis. It had been my goal the entire season, and it feels great to know that I get to return to compete at the national level.

One of the other things I really loved about this season was seeing the amount of growth our team has made and many of my individual teammates have made as competitors. It was awesome to see all of my teammates succeed at a whole new level.

A couple specifically that I think really deserve recognition: Paige Anderson, who also qualified to state and nationals in dramatic interpretation had an amazing season. She works harder than anyone on the team and she deserves just as much recognition as getting the premier distinction degree.

Steven Sandler also deserves a tremendous amount of credit for our teams success. He works very hard, and perseveres as an underdog when almost everyone else would give up.

Chris Riechert also has more raw talent and ability than any other competitor I've seen, and every other member of our team has made tremendous progress this year, making us a serious competitor in the Eastern Missouri District, which definitely has been the highlight of my season.

I would actually consider my specialty Public Forum Debate, but I do compete regularly in Extemporaneous Speaking at tournaments.