CHSSA Awards and Hall of Fame
Since its founding the California High School Speech Association has been the community gathering place for thousands of competitors and coaches who have represented the best that California speech and debate has to offer. In this community of excellence there are coaches and competitors who have proven themselves in their acts of service, through their excellence in competition, and in their commitment to speech and debate. To recognize these incredible students and coaches CHSSA has developed the CHSSA Hall of Fame, and other awards. Learn how to nominate for these awards, and past winners below.
Award
Donovan Cummings' Service Above Self Award
Each year one person is selected by the executive council to receive this award named after CHSSA’s first historian, Donovan Cummings. This award is given to someone who goes above and beyond in service to others in speech and debate, and in supporting the teaching, practicing, and learning of the activity throughout the state of California. Recipients of this award show a willingness to do the hard work, sacrifice, and help without desire for recognition or thanks.
Nomination
Representatives of the California High School Speech Association state board nominate deserving candidates.
Selection
The CHSSA executive committee reviews all nominees contributions to speech and debate in CA, and selects a recipient.
Donovan Cummings Service Above Self Award Winners
Student of the Year
Selected at the State Tournament Each Year
The student of the year award is selected from students across the state of California who have been nominated by their speech and debate coach. These students, in their final year of competition, have utilized their speech and debate skills in order to better themselves, their teams, their communities, and have fought to build a better future for California.
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CHSSA Hall of Fame
Multiple Nominees Can Be Inducted Each Year
The members of the Hall of Fame certainly would agree that the honor of their induction is shared with the many students they have served through the years, just as the honors their students are shared with their loyal coaches. Just as assuredly, their students would attest to the generosity of those who have given of their time, treasure, and talents in preparing thousands of young people for productive citizenship and life-long success. Candidates for the Hall of Fame are nominated by Leagues and voted on by CHSSA council, leagues, and other Hall of Fame members not currently on the council.
1987 CHSSA Founding Members
2021-2025
2021 Honoree
2022 Honorees
2023 Honoree
2024 Honoree
2016-2020
2010-2015
2010 Honoree
2011 Honorees
2012 Honorees
2013 Honorees
2015 Honorees
2005-2009
2005 Honorees
2006 Honoree
2007 Honoree
2009 Honoree
2000-2004
2000 Honorees
2002 Honoree
2003 Honoree
2004 Honoree
1995-1999
1995 Honorees
1996 Honorees
1998 Honorees
1999 Honorees
1990-1994
1990 Honorees
1991 Honorees
1992 Honorees
1993 Honorees
1994 Honorees
1988-1989
1988 Honorees
1989 Honorees
Checkout Our Video Interviews of Past Years’ Hall of Fame Inductees
Former CHSSA Historian, Hall of Fame member, and Service Above Self Service Award winner, and founding member of the California High School Speech Association Donovan Cummings began the practice of interviewing new Hall of Fame coaches as they were inducted in order to preserve the talent, history, and legacy of these coaches who were given the highest honor within our organization. CHSSA Historians since Mr. Cummings have continued this tradition of collecting Hall of Fame interviews as new coaches are inducted.