Top left: Riley Perantoni and Benjamin Bentley. Top right: Event judges with students Issac Tindol, Victoria Currier, and Mckenna Harrell. Center left: Ayden Patel, Katrina Maurer, Jozlynn Schreiber, Hazel Rambeau, Rubye Loye, Ashlynn Vuittonet, Landon Walker, Marin Garcia, and Quinn Ripley. Center right: Olivia Underwood and Madison Rabens. Bottom left: Daniel Belliveau, Isaac Tindol, Katrina Maurer, Victoria Currier, Ayden Patel, Tucker Wells, Landon Walker, Yeshaia James, Ashlynn Vuittonet, Rubye Loy, Marin Garcia, Leah List, Aubrey Williams, and Makenna Harrell. Bottom right: Benjamin Bentley, and Cathy Butler.
The Pensacola State College (PSC) Charter Academy Speech and Debate team made waves in the competitive speaking world for the 2024-2025 season. With unwavering determination, months of dedicated practice, and a passion for public speaking, these students have shown they are a force to be reckoned with—and their journey is just beginning.
It all started in October 2024 at the Incubate Debate Fall Tournament, where the Charter Academy made a stunning debut. The team, consisting of Riley Perpantoni, Olivia Underwood, Benjamin Bentley, and Mya Cook, took the competition by storm. Olivia tackled the speech category while Riley, Benjamin, and Mya battled it out in debate rounds. By the tournament’s end, the Charter Academy had claimed the highest honors—Riley emerged as the Overall Debate Champion, and Olivia dominated the speech competition, earning the coveted title of Overall Speech Champion.
Olivia’s winning speech was a powerful, deeply personal reflection on the First Amendment’s impact on her life. Her moving words resonated with judges and audience members alike, securing her a well-deserved victory. Both Olivia’s and Riley’s wins secured them a spot to compete at the Incubate National Meet at the New College of Florida, where they will compete to win the title of National Champion.
Riding the momentum of their early success, the team continued to shine into the new year. At the Incubate Winter Tournament, Benjamin Bentley was named Overall Debate Champion, further solidifying his place as a leader in the competitive circuit. That same month, several Charter Academy students took part in the American Legion Oratorical Speech Competition, a contest designed to deepen students’ understanding of the U.S. Constitution. Participants were required to deliver a prepared speech lasting 8 to 10 minutes, followed by an impromptu 3 to 5-minute speech based on a randomly selected constitutional amendment. Senior Benjamin Bentley earned 1st place, while Rubye Loye and Ashlynn Vuittonet, both freshmen, placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively, in the school-level competition. Their outstanding performances reflected not only their public speaking skills but also their deep respect for the constitution and their commitment to academic excellence.