A Foundation of Communication and Community
Lighthouse is dedicated to helping students develop communication and critical thinking skills that serve them in high school, college, career, and life.
Our History
Our family has been a part of the NCFCA since 2016! In 2015, our family moved to Raleigh, NC and attended information meeting about a Speech and Debate club. This was our first time hearing about the NCFCA and competitive Speech and Debate. My children were ages 6, 8, 13 and 16. We visited a tournament, and parents, whose kids had graduated and gone on to college, told me that Speech and Debate prepared their kids more for college than anything else they had done in high school. I was intrigued! My kids were interested to pursue this new venture, and they began competing in the 2016-2017 season.
We jumped in and quickly saw how learning those speaking and debating skills was very helpful--and a lot of fun! My older two kids competed in both Speech and Debate and went from being shy students to speaking confidently and developing many great skills in debate. Our younger two daughters competed in the Juniors tournaments. I quickly saw a lot of growth in my kids and loved that they were having fun while gaining important skills!
We helped start 2 clubs in Raleigh, while my older two kids were still in high school. They attended Regent University where they saw firsthand how the skills they'd learned in Speech and Debate prepared them for scholarship interviews and participating in their classes, and it opened many doors for them, including internships, fellowships, and employment. Professors and Deans notice the students who speak confidently and respectfully in classes!
The rest of our family moved to Virginia Beach in 2022 and started Lighthouse club, which meets at Regent University. (Regent loves NCFCA students!) Our youngest daughter is currently competing in the NCFCA. I have coached many students in Speech and Debate over 10 years and love helping them become confident communicators! We've also made many friends in the NCFCA over the years. It's a wonderful organization. One of my greatest joys is watching students go from being nervous speaking in front of others to gaining confidence while talking and debating about subjects they are passionate about!
Meet our kids:
Ryley: (Far right) Ryley competed in the NCFCA for 3 years, competed at the Nationals Championship, and then graduated from Regent in 2023 with a Bachelors in American Government. He graduated in 2025 with a Masters in Government at Regent and was named Outstanding Graduate of the Year. He is the Assistant Director of the Israel Institute at Regent University and teaches at the club.
Lauren: Lauren competed in the NCFCA for 4 years, going to the Finals Round at the Nationals Championship in several of her speeches. She graduated from Regent in 2024 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater, teaches at a local school, where she is also the Theater Director. A lot of her theater training in high school came from doing Interpretive speeches in the NCFCA! She helped me start Lighthouse club in 2024, created our logo, and teaches Interpretive speeches at the club.
Arianna: (Far left) Arianna competed in the NCFCA for 5 years, beginning when she was 8 years old, and she and is currently doing a "Super Senior" year, deciding what to explore next. She uses all the speaking skills she learned in a variety of ways, including being interviewed on camera.
Felicity: (Second from the left): Felicity began competing in the NCFCA in Juniors when she was 6 years old. At our Nationals Championship in June 2026, Felicity's Biblical Presentation speech advanced to the Finals round where she placed 8th in the nation. She is entering her Junior year of high school and is excited for the upcoming year!
Levi: We were very excited to welcome Levi into our family last October! His family also competed in the NCFCA, and then he pursued acting in high school and college. He graduated with a Bachelors in Accounting from Liberty University and works for a local accounting firm. He jumps in to help with judging rounds when we have tournaments at Regent.
Meet my husband, Bryan: Bryan has judged a lot of Speech and Debate rounds through the years and has also coached many students! He is the cheerleader of our family and helps us as we prepare for tournaments. I am very grateful for all of his tech support for the club, as well as the fun icebreakers he creates for us!
Lauren and Levi's wedding October 4, 2025
Coaching & College Preparation
Our unique approach blends experienced leadership with relatable mentorship from recent competitors.
Experienced Leadership
University Mentors
College Readiness
Our club is guided by an experienced coach who provides structural oversight, curriculum planning, and deep mentorship to ensure students are learning sound fundamentals in reasoning and presentation.
We partner with current Regent University students—who are NCFCA alumni—who coach at our summer camps and throughout the academic year. They provide recent, relevant competitive experience.
Colleges highly value NCFCA students because they arrive on campus already knowing how to research deeply, synthesize complex information, and present their findings confidently and respectfully.
Competitive Categories
Students train in competitive public speaking, Apologetics, and logical analysis, preparing them to speak with grace and conviction.
Competitive Debate
Platform Speaking
Interpretive & Prep
Master logical reasoning and policy analysis through Lincoln-Douglas debate, tackling complex philosophical resolutions with structured evidence.
Develop original, polished speeches including informative and persuasive addresses that speak directly to contemporary issues.
Learn the art of limited preparation, extemporaneous speaking, and dramatic interpretation to think quickly on your feet.
Our Philosophy
While we take the academic aspects of speech and debate seriously, we believe that learning happens best in a joyful environment.
At Lighthouse, we emphasize fun, relationship-building, and community. We want students to look forward to meetings not just for the intellectual challenge, but for the friendships and supportive fellowship they experience here.