Samuel Penno and the NZ Debating Championships

Recently the New Zealand Schools’ Debating Championships were held at Victoria University in Wellington. Samuel Penno was the marque representative for HIBS as senior debater for 2017. All of the top flight debaters from around the country were present: a total of approximately 40 debaters that were divided into twelve teams. There were seven preliminary rounds held and then the Semi-Final. Although Samuel’s team were beaten in the Semi-Final, it was noted that he often ‘lifted’ the performance of the teams that he was a member of. As a result, he was selected as the best speaker (MVS) for the competition as well as a member of the New Zealand team (for a second year running), to travel to Bali for the World Finals. Congratulations on a most meritorious achievement.