The San Marin High School Speech and Debate Team has achieved a historic milestone, continuing its legacy as the only competitive debate program not only in Novato, but in all of Marin County. After years of dedication and tireless effort, the team’s recent success is a moment to be celebrated by the entire community.
At the Golden Gate Speech Association (GGSA) State Qualifiers Tournament earlier this month, San Marin seniors Disha Divakar and Dominique Janot, both students in the school’s biotech program, won overall champions in parliamentary debate. They placed 1st out of 48 varsity teams from across the region—each team is required to meet GGSA’s highly selective entry criteria.
This victory marks a historic moment for San Marin: Disha and Dominique are only the second team in school history to qualify for the California State Championship in debate—and the first all-female team from San Marin to achieve this honor.
Dominique Janot commented, “I’m so grateful for all the support from our coach, advisor, and team. Going to State has always been our goal, and I’m lucky to represent Marin County. We’ve spent weekends debating since sophomore year, and it feels amazing to see our hard work pay off as we close this chapter.”
Disha Divadar added, “San Marin’s Speech and Debate program has helped me and others grow into stronger members of the NUSD community. I’m so thankful for the past four years with such a positive, supportive team. I’ve gained speaking and problem-solving skills that have helped me in many ways. Making it to State with my partner is a special way to end this journey and represent the hard work of our school, district, and county.”
In addition to this outstanding individual accomplishment, the San Marin team also won 3rd Place Overall Sweepstakes in Parliamentary Debate—an award based on cumulative wins across Novice, Junior Varsity, and Varsity divisions throughout the season’s three GGSA tournaments. While San Marin has earned sweepstakes recognition in the past, this is one of the first major trophies in nearly a decade, making it a significant return to the winner’s circle.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the context: unlike many of their competitors who have access to daily debate classes, San Marin’s debate team meets justonce a week for a few hours. Their success is a testament to the team’s hard work, self-motivation, and deep commitment.
“It’s been an honor to coach Domi and Disha. Their dedication over the past three years and their leadership as co-Presidents have made a lasting impact on our team. They’ve helped it grow, mentored younger members, and created a fun, inclusive space for everyone.
“We’re also incredibly grateful to School Fuel for their generous support these past two years. Their grants have allowed us to expand the team, attend more tournaments, and make Speech and Debate accessible to all San Marin students,” said Coach Karen Kenyon.
Zachary Alexander, Advisor, added, “Since beginning my work with the debate team earlier this year, I’ve been so impressed by the dedication of every member. Domi and Disha especially stand out for their commitment, skill, and leadership. Making it to the state championship shows just how hard they’ve worked. With their guidance, I’m confident San Marin Debate will keep growing and succeeding.”
Parliamentary debate requires students to prepare a case in just 20 minutes on a surprise resolution drawn from current events—topics can range from foreign policy and economics to science and ethics. San Marin’s students must stay informed on a wide range of global and national issues to be successful.
The team is now preparing to send Disha and Dominique to represent San Marin at the California State Championship in Culver City on May 2-4, as well as the National Parliamentary Debate League’s Tournament of Champions on April 4-7. This is the first time a San Marin team has qualified for this event.
Special recognition goes to the team’s dedicated leadership and volunteers, including:
· Volunteer Coach: Karen Kenyon
· Faculty Advisor: Zachary Alexander
· Team Co-Presidents: Disha Divakar & Dominique Janot
· Vice Presidents: Teju Kancharla & Rayhan Syed
· Debate Captains: Nora & Sophia Schiltgen
This program continues to foster excellence in public speaking, critical thinking, global awareness, and collaboration, reflecting the pillars of the Novato Unified School District’s 6 C’s—Critical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Cultural Competence, Character, and Citizenship.
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