Eloquence Academy recently awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) to Shakthi Prabhakaran, Imad Shaikh, and Kira Waldhalm.

The PVSA is a civil award bestowed by “certifying organizations” nationwide on behalf of the President of the United States. As a designated certifying organization, Eloquence Academy honors its volunteers and rewards their civic participation. The award was established by President George W. Bush in 2002 and is currently a joint initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service and Points of Light. There are two award types (individual and family) and four award levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold and Lifetime Achievement), with required hours per year varying by age range of the recipient for the various tiers. Awardees receive a personal letter and certificate signed by the President of the United States alongside a variety of memorabilia, including pins, coins, and medallions.

Join us in celebrating the impactful contributions of Shakthi, Imad, and Kira. All three volunteers have been a driving force behind our mission in their own rights. To get involved with the volunteer program, please apply here.

Shakthi Prabhakaran, Cleveland Regional Director

Shakthi is pursuing a Bachelor's of Arts at the University of Pittsburgh. She attended Mason High School, a partner school in Ohio; discovering her voice through Eloquence Academy’s curriculum inspired her to return as a volunteer. At Mason, Shakthi competed in Public Forum Debate and notably received a silver qualification bid to the Tournament of Champions.

Since joining as a volunteer in 2023, Shakthi has coached weekly classes and Impactful Storytelling as well as completed external outreach work. Reflecting on her experiences as a volunteer, she shared: “Volunteering with Eloquence Academy has given me the opportunity to help the next generation of debaters. The students are so funny and intelligent that I always have a great time with them. By explaining concepts and conducting activities, I refreshed my knowledge of debate fundamentals and gained valuable experience in working with others. Overall, I recommend everyone interested in speech and debate to join Eloquence Academy as a student or a volunteer!”

Imad Shaikh, Program Management Intern & Houston Regional Director

Imad is pursuing a Bachelor's of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Texas at San Antonio and recently graduated from Clements High School. He has conducted research on topics of neuroscience and behavioral health, notably studying crystallization in kidney stone pathogenesis, computational modeling in neural systems, and artificial intelligence applications in personality and behavior psychology at the University of Houston, University of Texas at San Antonio, and Rice University respectively. As a competitive debater, Imad qualified to both the National Speech & Debate Tournament and Texas Forensic Association State Tournament.

Since joining as a volunteer in 2023, Imad has coached at Impactful Storytelling, judged at tournaments, completed external outreach work, and written for the website blog. Reflecting on his experiences as a volunteer, he shared: “My role at Eloquence Academy has been incredibly rewarding. Coaching debate classes and organizing various events has enabled me to develop valuable leadership skills and a stronger understanding of nonprofit operations. Being involved in a community committed to promoting educational equity has given me an experience that is both impactful and enjoyable.”

Kira Waldhalm, Director of the Charitable Fund

Kira is pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science and Chinese with a minor in Geography at Middlebury College. Previously, Kira spent her entire professional career at Middlebury, where she worked in the admissions office to provide tours, support office workflow, and speak at information sessions for prospective undergraduate students. Kira graduated from Harrisburg High School, a rural high school in South Dakota, and her personal experience drew her to Eloquence Academy. There, Kira competed in Lincoln Douglas Debate and notably placed fourth at the National Speech & Debate Tournament.

In addition to her part-time position as Director of the Charitable Fund, Kira has coached weekly classes, judged at tournaments, hosted special lectures, and completed external outreach work. Reflecting on her experiences as a volunteer, she shared: “Over the past year, working with Eloquence Academy has been an amazing opportunity to teach public speaking and debate skills nationwide in historically underserved areas. Working with these students has reaffirmed my belief in the strength and importance of helping students develop research, critical thinking, and speaking skills. Like many of the students I work with, I grew up in a rural area that lacked access to many of the resources that other students may find ubiquitous. Giving these students access to the resources I wished I had during my secondary education has been an incredibly rewarding experience.”

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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, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram and YouTube at @eloquenceacademy.