By Elijah Easter Kaykay
Grand Bassa County, Liberia — July 14, 2025 — In a historic milestone for Grand Bassa County, a team of six talented high school students has been crowned champions of the 2025 Voices Liberia National Debate Competition. The highly competitive final, held over the weekend in Kakata, Margibi County, saw the Bassa team narrowly defeat their rivals from Grand Gedeh County in a match that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the very end.
The competition, which brought together six counties from across Liberia, showcased the nation’s brightest young minds debating pressing national issues with wit, confidence, and eloquence. The Bassa team’s exceptional performance not only captivated the audience and judges but also marked a historic first for Grand Bassa as the first high school team from the county to win this prestigious national title.
Following their victory, the young champions received widespread recognition from their community and government officials. Notably, Grand Bassa County Senator Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence personally supported their journey from the outset, emphasizing her commitment to youth development.
On Monday, the team visited the Capitol Building, where they formally presented their trophy to Senator Lawrence as a token of gratitude for her unwavering support. During the visit, the students had the opportunity to meet with several senators, each of whom took a moment to introduce themselves, offer congratulations, and share words of encouragement. The senators also presented tokens of appreciation, acknowledging the students’ dedication and promising continued support.
In a landmark announcement, Senator Lawrence declared her intent to support the students’ future academic pursuits. She instructed her scholarship committee to extend scholarships to each member of the debate team, covering both high school and college education. “This scholarship aims to motivate our young students to continue striving for academic excellence,” she stated. “It is also a call to other students to take their education seriously and aim high.”
Furthermore, she revealed plans to collaborate with Superintendent Karyou Johnson and other county leaders to publicly honor the students for their achievement. “We want to celebrate their success and inspire others to follow in their footsteps,” she added.
During the Capitol visit, the students also met with Senator Findley, who congratulated them personally and presented an appreciation package as an initial token of support. Both senators expressed their commitment to working together to support the students’ future endeavors and to elevate academic excellence across Grand Bassa County.
This victory not only signifies a major accomplishment for the county’s educational aspirations but also highlights the potential of Liberia’s youth to lead the nation forward. As the Bassa team prepares for future challenges, their success stands as a shining example of what determination, talent, and community support can achieve.
