Teams from several Howard County high schools competed in a national debate championship in Atlanta in late March.

The championship was intended for novice and second-year debaters and included debaters from 72 private and public schools across the country.

Two Centennial teams reached the semifinals, with Dan Li and Jonathan Kowarski finishing in 10th place, and Lan Mei and Abhik Pramanik finishing in 15th place.

Additionally, Li was honored as the ninth-place overall speaker at the championship.

The other Howard County teams, representing Howard, Glenelg, Mt. Hebron, River Hill and Oakland Mills high schools finished 3-3 in the tournament, according to a news release from the county school system.

Earlier this school year, Glenelg debaters Elisabeth McClure and Daniel Zhao finished eighth in the National Catholic Forensics League regional qualifying tournament, earning a place at the national championship in Albany on Memorial Day weekend.

Sixteen middle school debaters from county schools are preparing to compete in national championships in San Antonio later this year.

Debate teams at several county schools are assisted by Capitol Debate, a local nonprofit organization that has been a partner of the school system since 2007.

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