Earlier this month, Bethany Christian’s current speech and debate team enjoyed a special lunch event with alumna Lena Yeakey, one of the program’s most distinguished graduates. Lena, the all-time NFL (National Forensic League) points leader at Bethany with over 1,900 points, returned to campus to connect with students, reflect on her own experiences, and encourage them in their competitive journey.
During her time here, Lena earned Academic All-American honors, became Bethany’s first qualifier for the National Tournament, and was awarded the Hawker Prize in 2015 as the top speech student in Indiana. Her visit offered students insight into how debate sharpened her research skills, critical thinking, and confidence—values she emphasized as central to her personal and professional growth.
Current team members left the lunch motivated, with many expressing gratitude for Lena’s willingness to invest time in them. Her words underscored a legacy of excellence, reminding students that the foundation she helped lay continues to empower future Bruins.
For more on Bethany’s speech and debate program and its impact, visit the school’s speech-debate page or follow along with the team’s journey on Facebook.
2015 state debate meet