FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Greenfield – Wednesday, October 7, 2009: When senior Bryna Cofrin-Shaw (Northampton/Amherst) throws her hat into the ring, whether it’s on the soccer field, the theater stage, a poetry contest, or of late the International ...read more

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Greenfield – Wednesday, October 7, 2009: When senior Bryna Cofrin-Shaw (Northampton/Amherst) throws her hat into the ring, whether it’s on the soccer field, the theater stage, a poetry contest, or of late the International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC), her competitors take notice. Bryna's passion for public speaking is a force to be reckoned with, and that passion, fueled by commitment and determination, make her a powerhouse in any arena. On Sunday, October 4th Cofrin-Shaw qualified for the 2010 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships when she took second place among the American teams at the 28th Annual International Independent Schools Public Speaking Competition. The competition was host to 168 students and their coaches from 46 schools throughout the world – Bermuda, Canada, China, Cyprus, Jordan, Peru, the United Kingdom and the United States. Of the 21 American schools, Stoneleigh-Burnham, Deerfield Academy, Hotchkiss, Winsor, Roxbury Latin, and Andover competed for the top four spots that would qualify them for the American Team to compete at the World Championships in Lithuania in Spring 2010. The IISPSC focuses attention on the critical skills cultivated by public speaking: reflection, articulation, confidence and engagement. Cofrin-Shaw competed in three categories: Radio Newscast, Dramatic Interpretation and Persuasive Speaking. Cofrin-Shaw’s accomplishments were truly a team effort, as she would not have been considered by the rules of the competition, if she had not come to it as part of a team. The support of her teammates, fellow seniors Kat Bordewieck and Sophie Dorsch, both of whom finished strong in the competition, was key to Cofrin-Shaw’s success. Also key to her success were coaches Dr. Paul Bassett and Cyndee Meese, whom combined have more than 50 years teaching at Stoneleigh-Burnham School. This is not the first such honor for Stoneleigh-Burnham School, Cofrin-Shaw joins the ranks of nine other Stoneleigh-Burnham students who have qualified and competed at the World Championships. Christine Claffey’88, Julie Bastarache’91, Dionis Gauvin’92, Stephanie McCusker’94, Kelley Stiles'95, Alexandra Madden’01, Emma Nolan-Thomas’04, Obehi Utubor’05 and Emily Palmer’06. all competed on the American Team in South Africa, England and Greece. In 1994 McCusker was the top American speaker and the Stoneleigh-Burnham team was the top American team at the IISPSC. The Stoneleigh-Burnham Debate and Public Speaking Society was founded by Bassett in 1981, but the tradition of debate and public speaking reaches back for more than a century in the school’s 140 year history. ...hide