The Carroll Independent School District Debate Team sent 45 students to the John S. Gossett Memorial speech and debate tournament at University of North Texas earlier this month and earned a collective 282 points to win the tournament—182 points higher than the second place team.

Carroll ISD also dominated the congressional debate by taking 11 finalist spots.

Because of the teams achievements, the Southlake City Council took the time to recognize the students at its Nov. 19 meeting.

"Whereas speech and debate have a great impact on our young people, building them in critical thinking, creative analysis, logic, leadership and presentation skills," said Mayor John Terrell as he read a proclamation. "We are proud to recognize the Southlake Carroll speech and debate team and its coaches for an outstanding season I therefore, on behalf of this entire city council, with an expression of pride in the accomplishments of the team hereby proclaim Nov. 18, 2014 as the Carroll ISD Debate Team Day."

Debate team Coach Jason Sykes and two students accepted the framed proclamation from the mayor.

Terrell also read a second proclamation, which was addressed to Azhar Hussain, for placing third in the in congressional debate at the Speech and Debate Association's National Finals tournament in Overland Park, Kan. in June.

Hussain also performed his Veterans Day speech, which he used at an assembly at Southlake Carroll High School.

"The oldest democracy, the oldest civilization, the most prosperous nation to ever exist; the United States, as the saying goes wasn't built in a day," Hussain said. "No, it was built with the building blocks of freedom and justice.

"But this freedom wasn't free The was paid for fulfills a lesson. It was paid for on the beaches of Normandy it was paid for in the deserts of Arabia. These veterans selflessly sacrificed for their country to give us this ability.

"In the words of the second president of the united states John Adams, 'I study war and peace so that my son can study mathematics and philosophy.' Mathematics, philosophy and learning in general laid the basis of our nation of what students strive for: advancing ourselves. Not as individuals, but as a country as a whole."

"But to do that we need liberty, the ability to attend school, the ability to learn. That is where veterans come in. Veterans give us this ability."

Hussain made a final statement before wrapping up his speech: "What good is liberty at the end of the day if we don't utilize it?"