Lexie competed for 7 years for Isidore Newman School in Louisiana, primarily in extemporaneous speaking, impromptu speaking, and extemp commentary. Most notably, she was a finalist in extemporaneous speaking at the UT Longhorn Classic, the New York City Invitational, and the California Invitational, as well as the two-time Louisiana state champion. In addition, she was an NSDA finalist in extemporaneous commentary. She is a two-time ISD alum, and is so excited to return to a camp that had such an impact on her speech and debate career!
Type: Junior
Al Zaidi
Al Zaidi is a rising freshman at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a graduate of Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Florida.
Across three seasons in Extemp, Al won national tournaments including Yale, Bronx, Blue Key, and the Sunvitational — alongside FFL Florida State championships in both International Extemp and United States Extemp. Al was also a semifinalist in IX at NSDA Nationals, the TOC, and Harvard; a finalist at Glenbrooks, Emory, and the Coolidge Cup; and received two invitations to the Montgomery Bell Academy Round Robin.
Alongside competing, Al coaches in his local community. In 2023, he founded a debate initiative that reaches 150+ students in Title I schools. He also directs local tournaments, organizing the region’s first competition for 60+ students from seven high schools. Al is an NSDA Academic All-American, a recipient of the NSDA Speaking & Service Award, and a recipient of the NSDA All-State Award. A published novelist and poet, Al enjoys employing language for creative expression and has invented an antibiotic for nosocomial infection. He is a published researcher and a Borlaug Scholar. A former ISD camper, Al is excited to return to ISD as an instructor this summer!
Eva Redmond
Eva is currently a senior at The Blake School and has debated there for four years. Eva has amassed 15 bids to the Tournament of Champions and won the UK Season Opener, Apple Valley, the Blake Round Robin (2x), the Ivy Street Round Robin, the Barkley Forum, and Minnesota State (2x). She has broken at the TOC two years in a row, receiving 5th speaker her sophomore year. She also loves sailing, playing with her dog, and reading. Eva is thrilled to be a part of ISD!
Esther Oyetunji
Esther competed in high school Speech and Debate for four years, competing in several categories such as Informative Speaking, Original Oratory, and Program Oral Interpretation. As a member of the American Heritage Speech team she championed various tournaments ranging from Florida Varsity State, The Barkley Forum at Emory University, and Harvard University’s International Tournament. Most notably, she is a three time, back-to-back-to-back NSDA National Champion in Original Oratory. Esther is so excited to give back to a community that has given her so much!
Tess Segal
Tess has been doing speech & debate for 5 years, with national titles including two-time Original Oratory champion at Glenbrooks, making the NSDA stage in Informative Speaking, and appearing in final rounds of Oratory, Info, and POI and both the state and national levels. She’s a climate communication nerd whose best experience in high school was coaching novices as team captain, and she’s thrilled to extend that experience at ISD.