Clara Shortridge Foltz Award

To commemorate the inclusion of students from Damien's sister school, St. Lucy's Priory, into the debate community and to recognize the vital contributions women make in debate, each year we award one woman in the debate community with the Clara Shortridge Foltz award.

Clara Shortridge Foltz was the first female lawyer on the West Coast and the pioneer of the idea of the public defender, an example of the tremendous influence that women can have in our society when equipped with the tools of rhetoric and argument that debate provides.

We accept nominations for the award every year. Please submit a nomination that highlights the positive contributions the nominee has made to the debater community. Past award winners include Rosalyn Foster of Sage Hill, Nethmin Liyanage of Damien-St. Lucy's, and Christina Tallungan Phillips of Notre Dame.

Please send your nominations to cparedes@damien-hs.edu no later than September 26th, 2025. The award winner will be selected by a committee including members of the Damien and St. Lucy's coaching staff and administrations.