While many high school students are still discovering their passions, Folsom resident and Vista del Lago High School sophomore Sarayu Pasumarthi is already making her mark on the national stage in the competitive world of speech and debate.

Pasumarthi has recently achieved a remarkable trifecta of accomplishments that highlight her talent, leadership, and commitment to the art of communication. Not only has she qualified for and competed in two of the most prestigious speech and debate tournaments in the nation—the Tournament of Champions (TOC) and the National Catholic Forensic League’s (NCFL) Grand Nationals—but she has also been named to the National Student Leadership Council (SLC) for the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA), a role reserved for the most driven and visionary student leaders in the country.

To earn a spot at the TOC—often referred to as the “championship of the national circuit”—Pasumarthi had to first accumulate qualifying bids at high-level tournaments across the country. Presented each year by the University of Kentucky, the TOC is known for its elite competition and high standards for excellence. Similarly, she earned her way to the NCFL Grand National Tournament, which draws top-performing students from local qualifiers and is celebrated for its diverse array of speech and debate events. The NCFL Grand Nationals take place annually over Memorial Day weekend and are governed by rigorous rules and procedures that ensure fairness and professionalism.

While national tournament participation is already an exceptional achievement, Pasumarthi’s latest honor goes even further in demonstrating her leadership potential. From a national applicant pool of over 1,000 students, she was first chosen as the top nominee from the Sacramento District, standing out in the assessment conducted by the local district committee. Her nomination was then forwarded to the national level, where she emerged as one of just 60 finalists out of 350 district-nominated students from across the country. Ultimately, she was selected as one of 27 students to join the NSDA’s National Student Leadership Council.

Members of the SLC serve as key voices in shaping the future of the NSDA, which supports more than 140,000 student members nationwide. In this role, Pasumarthi will be responsible for providing direct feedback on the organization’s programs and initiatives, contributing to the development of student resources, and advising on how the NSDA’s mission and vision are carried out at the student level. The SLC also collaborates on outreach content, consults on improvements, and helps to ensure the relevance and effectiveness of programs offered by the national organization.

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