Partnership with Centennial High School in Corona, California
c/o Rudri Soni
Eloquence Academy extends a formal welcome to Centennial High School!
Located in Corona, California, within the Compton Unified School District, Centennial High School is a Title 1 public school serving 2,816 students in grades 9 through 12. 72% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, 54% qualify for the free lunch program, and 87% are minority students, with the majority being Hispanic. While the school faces these systemic challenges, Centennial is known for its passionate educators, strong community values, and interconnected alumni network. The school also offers Advanced Placement courses and an International Baccalaureate program, giving students pathways to excel academically.
Over a decade ago, Centennial maintained a small yet dedicated speech and debate club that competed frequently on the local circuit. However, the departure of the last advisor, a shortage of funding, and limited access to mentorship made it difficult to sustain.However, this year’s annual club fair saw record interest from more than 50 students. To help revitalize its debate program, Centennial chose to partner with Eloquence Academy.
Our Debate-Inspired Classrooms program supports the funding or logistical needs of K-12, public, independent, magnet, charter, boarding, and homeschools in developing their own debate programs. Centennial will receive copies of our flagship curriculum and bi-weekly afterschool coachings in Public Forum and Worlds Schools Debate. Fundraising and Grants Coordinator Rudri Soni, who happens to be a graduate of Centennial, will help manage the partnership, bringing firsthand experience, insight, and love for the school. Our immediate goal is for all students to build foundational debate skills and compete against one another in a friendly intramural scrimmage. By the end of the year, we hope to send Centennial students to at least three tournaments, including Winter Cup and Spring Cup.
We are grateful to Rudri and excited to see what the future holds.
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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,200+ students across 35 states and 15 countries. Ultimately, Eloquence Academy aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow Eloquence Academy on Instagram and YouTube at @eloquenceacademy.
