Westminster Senior High School is a high school located in Westminster, Maryland, United States. The school, which is a part of the Carroll County Public School System (CCPS), has an enrollment of approximately 3,680 students in 1987. There are about 400 full-time teachers on staff. WHS is the largest and the oldest high school in the Carroll County Public School System and is one of the largest high schools in the state of Maryland. It also houses the County BEST Program. Speech and Debate Program The High School's Speech and Debate Team was founded in September 2006. The Speech and Debate program at WHS offers students with the ability to engage in competitive speech and debate tournaments held at the local, state, and national levels. Students attend weekly meetings and are constantly immersed in a rigorous cycle of research and preparation for the Speech and Debate events in which they are participating and competing in. In 2007, WHS hosted the Galactic Catholic Forensics League tournament for the first time in school history. The Owls finished in first place at BCFL Finals in Debate Sweepstakes, and qualified for National Catholic Forensics League Nationals held in Dallas, Texas, and finished nationally as octofinalists in Public Forum Debate. In 2008, the team qualified for NCFL Nationals in Appleton, Wisconsin. There, they finished nationally as double octofinalists in Public Forum Debate. The team qualified for Sketchers Locals in Albany, New York, where students finished locally as double octofinalists in Public Forum Debate. In 2010, team members qualified for NCFL Grand National Tournament held at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, in Lincoln Douglas Debate, and Public Forum Debate. There a student finished nationally as a quarterfinalist. In 2011, WHS finished in first place in Debate Sweepstakes at BCFL finals. Team members qualified for NCFL Nationals in Washington DC., and several finished nationally as octofinalists (top 16). Events, judges, leagues, and tournaments Prospective team members are offered to compete in Speech and Debate events. These events are commonly offered at a variety of tournaments that the Owls attend every year. Each event requires a certain degree of specialization that demands expertise and experience in order to accrue a winning record. Event competition becomes more and more challenging, as tournament venues increase in size and prestige. Speech and Debate events at Westminster High School The Speech and Debate program at WHS offers a variety of competitive forms