A Potomac Graduate, a Supreme Court Justice, and the Power of Oratory

In June, the Washington D.C. screening of "Speak," a documentary celebrating the world of high school speech and debate, drew a distinguished guest: Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. The documentary, which evolved through several iterations before focusing on the highly competitive world of high school speech and debate, captured the journey of several students, including one who placed first in the original oratory event at the Harvard tournament—an event now named after Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, a former champion herself. 

Yet, the evening's true highlight extended beyond the film itself, culminating in a compelling address by recent Potomac graduate Hannah de Souza ’25. A nationally-ranked member of Potomac’s speech and debate team, de Souza was invited to speak following the screening, her connection to the event deeply personal. Her award-winning original oratory, a powerful defense of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), had prominently featured Justice Jackson and boldly confronted common misconceptions about DEI, advocating for its universal benefits.

Hannah's coach, Ryan Levesque, co-director of Potomac's speech and debate program, was featured in "Speak" and knew the producers well. Recognizing the opportunity, he provided an excerpt of her speech, which impressed the producers. Hannah's speech directly addressed the mischaracterizations of DEI, a topic particularly resonant given the public discourse surrounding Justice Jackson's nomination. Having coached students to national championships, Levesque understood the potential of de Souza's oratory, with its “blend of intellectual rigor, emotional depth, and humor.” 

Following the documentary, de Souza took the stage, delivering a condensed, five-minute version of her powerful oratory to a captivated audience that included Justice Jackson and her daughter. Levesque noted that de Souza's “confidence and conviction electrified the room,” underscoring the profound and transformative impact of speech and debate. 

Hannah went on to compete in the National Speech and Debate Tournament the very next day, energized by the powerful experience.

Read the review of “Speak” from Variety.