TRAINING FOR VICTORY
The Helmsmen Institute is dedicated to building and equipping ethical leaders in the Stoa speech and debate community to have a future characterized by honor and excellence. We prioritize individual training that provides advanced education to prepare the next generation to be cultivated citizens who can discern the true, good and beautiful. Our Institution, founded on alumni leadership, provides portable skills and techniques derived from the success of champion debaters. Our goal is to emulate Proverbs 18:15 by sharing knowledge and actively seeking the love and wisdom of God.
OUR STORY
The Helmsmen Institute was born at a small table in the Concordia University Irvine dining hall, where Denise Sprimont, Meghan Gleeson, David Vasquez and Josiah Popp made a commitment to serve the Stoa community.
In speaking to Stoa competitors and parents, it became apparent that there is a need for an affordable speech and debate camp, and for affordable speech and debate resources that will prepare students of all levels for competition. As such, we founded The Helmsmen Institute to provide high-quality alumni run speech and debate camps, and exceptional materials that meet the needs of the Stoa community. We seek to become positive and impactful leaders through our dedication to the lifelong benefits of education.
The members of our staff are all successful Stoa Alumni and coaches who are committed to giving back to the community that has supported, encouraged and taught them so much in the past decade. We feel privileged to utilize our skills and knowledge to contribute to the future through the Helmsmen Institute. As we answer the call to take the Helm, we firmly believe the Stoa community and students will benefit educationally and spiritually.
ABOUT US
What do we offer?
The Helmsmen Institute provides speech and debate resources and speech and debate camps for Stoa competitors. Our resources are tailored for Stoa competitors and aimed at assisting students to reach their full potential. The Helmsmen educational philosophy will be the framework for all of our material, ensuring that students will receive the highest quality speech and debate resources.
ABOUT US
Who are we?
The Helmsmen Institute was born at a small table in the Concordia University Irvine cafeteria, where Denise Sprimont, Meghan Gleeson, David Vasquez and Josiah Popp made a commitment to serve the Stoa community. The Helmsmen Institute is an educational organization founded by alumni and guided by business professionals, educational specialists, and communication professors. We wish to bless Stoa competitors the same way we were blessed by Stoa. We are not a club, though we sponsor a club, Voyagers. Rather, we are a resource hub for Stoa competitors who are interested in growing in knowledge, virtue, and speech and debate skills. Our staff focuses on analyzing the needs of students and creating materials, routines, and so much more to turn shortcomings into strengths.
Through this curriculum, we strive to enhance skills that students already have and to encourage them in Christ. Always remembering our original goals and desires, we serve others to support families seeking success in speech and debate.
In speaking to competitors and parents, it has become apparent that there is a need for an affordable debate camp, and for affordable debate resources that will prepare students of all levels for competition. We seek to become positive and impactful leaders in the Stoa speech and debate community through our dedication to the lifelong benefits of education. The members of our staff are all successful Stoa alumni and coaches who are committed to giving back to the community that has supported, encouraged and taught them so much in the past decade. We firmly believe that if alumni are the Helmsmen of the Stoa community, students will benefit educationally and spiritually. We are ready to guide speech and debate competitors to victory.
ABOUT US
Our Mission
At The Helmsmen Institute, our mission is to guide students throughout their time in Stoa, providing students with alumni leadership and mentoring to not only to grow and excel in speech and debate, but to grow and excel in their spiritual walk with God. We seek to provide each student the resources they require for success, but also seek to lead students in their walk in the Lord. We support a strong alumni presence in the speech and debate community, discipling and mentoring students throughout the year, to prepare them for a future life speaking and espousing the Lord's word eloquently, and righteously.
OUR CORE VALUES
high quality debate resources
Every student who participates in speech and debate must work for what they want to achieve; however, they can not do everything on their own. They need an army, and the Helmsmen Institute—and all of the resources that it has—is ready to have their back and fight alongside them.
We like you, too! In fact, let's stay in touch!
LIKE WHAT YOU SEE?
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Whom does the Helmsmen Institute serve?We serve the Stoa speech and debate community. Our debate resources and camps are specifically geared towards the resolutions and speech events in Stoa, and are prepared for Stoa.
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Who can attend the Helmsmen Institute camps?For our Helmsmen Institute Stoa Camps, any child who is eligible to compete in Stoa in the following competition year is welcome.
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What makes the Helmsmen Staff qualified to teach speech and debate?The Founders of the Helmsmen Institute were all champions in Stoa, with outstanding achievements in high school, and they went on to attend a University with a Forensic Program in the top 10 Speech and Debate Universities in the Nation. The Founders of the Helmsmen Institute cumulatively have over 35 years of experience in competition or coaching Speech and Debate and are experienced in assisting competitors to become the best speakers and debaters they can be. The Helmsmen Institute Board of Directors consists of devoted Stoa supporters (several of whom have experience in college or high school forensic coaching) with over 85 years of experience altogether, and are present to guide staff and students alike through teaching and coaching. The Coaching Staff is handpicked to include the most elite and grounded individuals in Stoa, and are selected based on success, integrity, and their continued involvement with speech and debate. Every Helmsmen representative is among those nationally recognized for speech and debate skills, knowledge, coaching and competition.
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Did your staff do well in Stoa?Each of our alumni instructors have placed and ranked nationally within the top 10 in their category during their time in Stoa, winning many tournaments in their events. Several of our instructors have been coaching as alumni for their home clubs. Check out our Staff page for more details!