I recently reconnected with the Fine Arts Boosters (FAB) Featured Artist of the Month for December, Cailyn Crossland.
This exuberant Debate Club co-captain and cross country runner and her mom, Terry, were Kingston Farmers Market regulars when my grandchildren and I were vendors. The generational divide disappeared as I got to know what makes Cailyn tick, and what makes her FABulous.
Cailyn, 16, drives to school from her lifelong home in rural Kingston where she lives with her mom, dog and cats.
“I love the Kingston life where it is small and safe, we know each other and there is lots to do in the outdoors,” she said.
When I talked with her, she had just come from the state cross country meet in Pasco, where Kingston High girls took seventh in the 2A division. Another sport she’s involved: Debate.
“Most people do not know that there are many forms of debate, which is both a performance art and an academic sport,” Cailyn explained.
Her passion lies in Interpretation Events, where a debater can cut his or her own script from a book or choose a pre-written script, memorize it and then perform before a panel of judges.
When I tried my hand and mind at being a judge, the topic for the Public Forum Debate was the Electoral College. In December, the National Forensic League Public Forum Debate topic is, “In the U.S., Current Income Disparities Threaten Democratic Ideals.” There is depth of research that goes into the stances the debaters take that can inspire us older citizens in our decision making.
Debate is a sport that meets before and after school with volunteer De’ Mackinnon, who teaches English and creative writing at KHS, and head coach Lasica Crane. They prepare for travels to competitions with other high school teams. As co-captain with Lauren Miller, Cailyn is a role model for the new debaters and gives them abundant encouragement and help.
“Dante Miquel, last year’s co-captain, convinced me this summer to stay in Debate and to go for the position,” she said. It is her passion and she acknowledges that putting Debate co-captain on her college application is as good as it gets.
Cailyn sees her future in leadership and hopes to somehow combine her love of math and English with emphasis on analytical writing and speaking. Right now she calls herself “a regular girl who hangs out with my friends at the mall and with my boyfriend.”
As I get to meet these FABulous young people, I’m taken with how articulate, thoughtful, hopeful, open, hard-working (I could go on and on …) these “regular” students are. Kingston Rotarians, who are meeting the Featured Artists at their luncheons this year, are getting to know the gifts the students of the arts at Kingston High School give to our community as they broaden our minds and experience.
By the way, Debate Club is selling beautiful gold and crimson neckties to raise funds for transportation to their many competitions. To order, contact Coach Crane at lcrane@nkschools.org.
If you are interested in volunteering to judge at a tournament or would like to donate to the KHS debate program, please contact Coach Crane for more information.
