New Mexico District Qualifier

for the 2026 National Tournament

World Schools Team Info & Application

World Schools - New Mexico District Team Application

We invite students to apply for the New Mexico District World Schools Team. We may send up to 10 students to represent our state at the National Tournament.

Applicants must be districts-eligible*, but they do not necessarily have to attend the District Tournament.
Districts Eligible means:
* Must have at least 25 points in the honor society, be a paid member of the NSDA, and have a student account on the NSDA Website.

Students who apply must include world schools in their SELI (single entry letter of intent; a tabroom section for each entry to rank the events the student prefers to compete in at Nationals should they qualify in more than one event).
When we announce the world schools team members, SELI will be accounted for. For example, if a student qualifies to compete at Nationals in Oratory, and Oratory was listed as their preferred event over world schools, they will not be selected for the worlds team. However, if a student qualifies in another event (eg LD), and yet listed world schools as the preferred event over this other event (in this case ranked worlds over LD), the student will still be considered for a spot on the world schools team.

The student or coach who fills out the application should be aware they will be required to digitally sign the following statement:

Student or Coach Signature

By submitting this application, the student understands the following:

The school is responsible for entering the individual student in the National Tournament and for all financial obligations associated with participation.

The student must be available for weekly practice sessions during the months of April & May. In June students should be available for practices 2-3 days a week along with scrimmages.

* At least two of those practices will be in-person.

* Most will be virtual.

The student is responsible for completing all work assignments as directed by the coach(es) of the team on time.

Students should plan to work/practice during the week of the National Tournament in the evening if they are preparing for later elimination rounds. If they are eliminated but another New Mexico Worlds Team is still in, they are expected to help prepare.

The student is expected to behave in accordance with the rules of his or her school and the Honor Code of the National Speech and Debate Association.

By typing the name of the student (or coach, if a coach is filling this out), the student verifies they agree to the above.

TO APPLY:

Students and/or coaches should fill out the application form found HERE.

New for 2026 - Students are asked to submit at least one video of a prop or opp speech on the motion:

This house welcomes the decline of the US as a sole hegemonic power.

The speech should include an introduction, framework, and two arguments. If choosing Side Opposition, the speech does NOT need to include refutation. The speech should be between 5-7 1/2 minutes in length (to account for POIs and refutation).

Applications are due on March 13th at 3PM.

VIDEO SUBMISSION:

Please submit a prop 1 or opp 1 on the following motion:

This house welcomes the decline of the US as a sole hegemonic power.

The speech should include an introduction, framework, and two arguments. If choosing Side Opposition, the speech does NOT need to include refutation. The speech should be between 5-7 1/2 minutes in length (to account for POIs and refutation).

Please copy and paste the link of your YouTube video OR Google Drive link of your demo speech on the motion in the application form. Please make sure to adjust the settings so that the committee is able to review it.

Click for more information about World Schools format

If you have additional questions anything related to world schools, please contact Hannah at hflake@eastmountain.org.