The Powell High School speech and debate team chatted excitedly ahead of their Christmas party on Dec. 19, but there was another reason for their excitement. 

Powell’s second ever Academic All American speech and debate student was being presented an honor only experienced by an exclusive selection of students.

The award is received by less than 1% of all speech and debaters and Dacovney Brochu is the second student at Powell High School to ever receive the award. Her friend and former public forum debate partner Aiden Chandler was the first Powell student to receive the award last year. 

“I think it’s really cool and I’m glad that it was the both of us first,” Brochu said.

Brochu added that she thinks that becoming an All American is an achievable goal for someone who is putting in the work. 

“I was already right on track for it. It was just making sure that I kept up my good grades,” Brochu said. “A large part of it was just being a leader on the team, being someone who was an active competitor, as well as being a part of the team.” 

Chandler, who attends college in Denver, was in town to present his friend with the award. 

“Coach [Nicole Maier Reitz] asked me while I was [in college], if when I’m back for Christmas, if I wanted to give it to her, and I was really excited because it’s such a good opportunity, because she deserves it and I wanted to be the one to give it to her.”

When Chandler achieved Academic All American status last year he gave the credit to Brochu. 

“[I spent] a long, long time in my room by myself, practicing my speeches, practicing my oratories to Dacovney, my partner; I owe a lot to her. I would have half the points I do now if it wasn’t for her,” Chandler said in February upon receiving his award.

Brochu was unaware of the award until Chandler won it, after that she had her sight set on joining him in the ranks of All American speech and debate students. 

“I mean, I knew that she was gonna get it last year, just because I saw that she was putting all the work in and she was working so hard to become the next [All American],” Chandler said. “So I knew that it was gonna happen, but just having it happen so soon was really cool and it was really a nice surprise to receive while I was at college.”

Maier Reitz said that several more students are on track to qualify for the award which shows how much the team supports one another.

“I think a lot of it is that we have been working really hard at not just doing one event, but doing two or three events,” Maier Reitz said. “And so Dacovney does [extemporaneous} as well as public forum, and the support that they give each other.”