🏆 History Made! Celebrating Southland’s First Double National Finalist, Jordan Lee!

Good morning Southland Family,

We are thrilled to share a monumental, historic achievement with our Southland community today. Class of 2026 graduate Jordan Lee has represented Southland College Prep on the national stage in an unprecedented way!

At the 2026 National Speech & Debate Tournament in Richmond, Virginia—a massive competition featuring roughly 7,000 top students from across the country—Jordan accomplished something our program has never seen before. She became Southland’s very first Double National Finalist, securing two podium finishes against the nation's elite:

• 3rd Place in Poetry Reading – Out of 391 national competitors, Jordan advanced all the way to the top three with her incredible performance of "Ain't Finna a Word."
• 3rd Place in Original Spoken Word – Writing and performing her own piece, "The House," Jordan captured 3rd place out of 191 elite writers and performers.

Placing third in the entire United States in one event is a career-defining achievement, but doing it in two distinct categories at the exact same national tournament is a masterclass in talent, work ethic, and dedication.

This historic milestone is the perfect capstone to Jordan’s stellar speech career at Southland, which also included IHSA state honors earlier this year alongside fellow Class of 2026 member, Courtney Clemons. Her phenomenal performance highlights the incredible depth of our nationally recognized speech program and the dedication she has poured into her craft.

Please join us in celebrating Jordan Lee for her historic, inspiring run on the national stage. Jordan, thank you for representing the Southland Family with such immense power, grace, and excellence!

Go Southland! ♥️🦅