Sasha-Kay Lindo’s Double Victory at Barkley Forum 2025 Cements Her High School Debate Stardom

In an extraordinary display of talent, 16-year-old Sasha-Kay Lindo of American Heritage School (Broward Campus, FL) captured two championship titles at the 70th Annual Barkley Forum for High Schools in late January 2025. Lindo swept both Dramatic Interpretation and Program Oral Interpretation – a rare double win accomplished over a field of more than 2,000 competitors from 200+ schools​.

Her feat, achieved at one of the nation’s most prestigious high school speech and debate tournaments, solidifies Lindo’s status as a rising star and exemplifies the power of storytelling in forensics competition.

A Rare Double Championship Performance

Winning a single event at the Barkley Forum is a coveted honor. Winning two events is virtually unheard of – yet that’s exactly what Sasha-Kay Lindo did. The Barkley Forum, hosted by Emory University in Atlanta, saw Lindo first claim the Dramatic Interpretation (DI) title, then also emerge as the Program Oral Interpretation (POI) champion, sweeping the final rounds of both categories​.

Dramatic Interpretation is a solo acting event where competitors perform a cutting from a play or narrative, showcasing emotional depth and characterization. Program Oral Interpretation involves weaving together thematically-linked pieces of literature (prose, poetry, drama) into a single performance. Excelling in either discipline demands exceptional skill – mastering both, in the same tournament, is a triumph of immense versatility.

Lindo’s DI performance was described by judges as gripping and poignant. Selecting a piece that dealt with intergenerational trauma, she embodied multiple characters seamlessly, moving the audience from laughter to tears within minutes. Her polished delivery and authentic emoting edged her past a talented final round field of actors. In POI, Lindo crafted a program around the theme of identity and self-acceptance, expertly blending spoken word poetry with excerpts of a memoir. The creativity and cohesion of her program stood out. “She had us in the palm of her hand,” one coach remarked of Lindo’s POI finals appearance, noting how she transitioned between characters and narrative voices “with jaw-dropping control.”

By the end of that round, it was clear to observers that Lindo had likely clinched another first-place. Sure enough, when the results were announced, she took the stage twice – earning two gold Key trophies (the Barkley Forum’s signature award) to thunderous applause from the crowd.

Triumph at the Prestigious Barkley Forum

Sasha-Kay Lindo’s double victory occurred at what is considered one of the toughest high school tournaments in the country. The Barkley Forum for High Schools – held January 24–26, 2025 – brought together over 2,000 competitors from more than 200 schools across 28 states.​

Entry into this tournament is highly selective; schools must apply and only those with strong records are invited, ensuring that the field is elite. Events at Barkley Forum span debate (Policy, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, Congressional Debate) and speech (including Interpretation and Original Oratory, among others). Final rounds are traditionally held exhibition-style in front of large audiences, making the stakes and visibility even higher​.

American Heritage School (AHS) – Lindo’s school – is a perennial powerhouse in speech and debate, and at Barkley Forum 2025 they had an especially stellar showing. In fact, AHS was the only school to earn more than one individual championship title at the tournament​.

This was largely thanks to Lindo’s heroics in two categories. According to an American Heritage press release, the team also boasted more individual finalists across events than any other school in attendance​.

The Barkley Forum tournament directors noted that such a double win is exceedingly rare. While final round records aren’t exhaustively published, long-time coaches at Emory attested that it’s been many years since a single student last took first place in two different events in the same year. Most top competitors specialize in one genre; Lindo’s success across multiple genres demonstrates a breadth of skill that few can match. It also speaks to her work ethic and range – she had to prepare two distinct programs (each 10 minutes in length) and advance through multiple elimination rounds in each event, often back-to-back. During the tournament’s final day, Lindo was seen literally sprinting between rounds: performing in the DI final round and then immediately heading to compete in POI finals. That she could maintain such a high level in both is a testament to her stamina and poise under pressure.

The Art of Storytelling: Lindo’s Strengths

What makes Sasha-Kay Lindo such a formidable speech competitor? Coaches and judges point to her exceptional storytelling ability and stage presence. In Dramatic Interpretation, she demonstrates maturity beyond her years – her character work is nuanced, and she’s unafraid to tackle complex, weighty material. At Barkley Forum, while some DI finalists opted for comedic pieces or well-trodden dramatic monologues, Lindo chose a relatively obscure piece that challenged the audience’s perspectives. Her risk paid off: the judges commended her for bringing a fresh narrative to the stage and delivering it with conviction.

In Program Oral Interpretation, Lindo’s strength lies in seamless integration and clear narrative voice. Constructing a POI program is like directing a one-person show; it requires selecting diverse literature and finding an underlying thread. Lindo’s program, titled “Pieces of Me,” interwove a modern poem about self-image, dialogues from a stage play about a teen finding her cultural identity, and lines from a famous novelist’s coming-of-age story. By the program’s end, those pieces collectively told her story – or one that felt intimately hers. Judges remarked on how coherent and emotionally powerful her program was, with one ballot stating that her performance “set a new standard for what POI can be.”

Equally important, Lindo’s technical skills are top-notch. She enunciates clearly, uses pauses effectively, and employs gestures and facial expressions that enhance rather than distract. Her transitions between characters in DI, or between pieces in POI, are smooth like silk. Fellow competitors have noted that when Sasha-Kay performs, you forget you’re watching a competition – she creates a theatrical experience. It’s that ability to fully immerse in the material that scores big points in interpretation events, where the goal is to move the audience.

Despite the immense pressure, those who saw Lindo at Emory noted her composure and humility. After winning, she was quick to credit others. “It’s a team effort,” she said, acknowledging her coaches and teammates who helped rehearse her pieces. Such graciousness, coupled with her talent, has made her a beloved figure even among rival schools. “Everyone was cheering for her by the end,” recalled a student from a competing team, referring to the moment Lindo’s second win was announced. “We all knew we had witnessed something special.”

A Star on the Rise and What’s Next

By securing two titles at Barkley Forum 2025, Sasha-Kay Lindo has set a new benchmark for excellence in high school speech. The achievement propels her into the national spotlight as one of the top performers to watch this year. As a junior (11th grader), Lindo still has the rest of this season – and potentially her senior year – to continue her winning ways. Her double victory virtually guarantees her bids to the elite Tournament of Champions (TOC) in both DI and POI, and she will undoubtedly be a favorite to win at the TOC in Lexington, Kentucky later this spring.

Coaches at American Heritage are already hailing Lindo as a generational talent. “She’s the kind of student who comes along once in a decade, if that,” one coach said. But Lindo’s success also reflects the strength of her team’s program. The American Heritage Broward Campus invests heavily in speech and debate, and its students’ consistent national success (including multiple finalists and champions at Barkley Forum) speaks to that culture of excellence​.

Lindo has benefitted from mentoring by older teammates in years past, and now, she’s taken up the mantle of leadership. At team practices, she often helps younger members with their pieces – an ironic twist, given that at 16, she’s now a two-time champion others aspire to emulate.

The broader speech and debate community has taken notice as well. Videos of Lindo’s performances have been circulating (with permission) in coaching forums and workshops. Her POI program in particular is being used as a teaching example for how to construct a thematically strong program. In a way, Lindo is already influencing how other students approach their craft.

Looking ahead, Lindo remains characteristically grounded. In interviews, she emphasizes that for her, speech is about connection and personal growth. The trophies are a bonus. That mindset aligns with the ethos of the Barkley Forum itself, which celebrates “forensic excellence” but also the camaraderie and educational value of the activity​

As the 2024–25 season continues, all eyes will be on Sasha-Kay Lindo. Whether she’s performing a dramatic scene or delivering a poetic program, she has proven that she can command a room like few others her age. Winning two events at a tournament as storied as the Barkley Forum is a feat that will be remembered for years in high school speech and debate lore. And for Lindo herself, it may just be the beginning of a illustrious journey. With her talent, dedication, and poise, this young double champion is poised to leave an indelible mark on the world of competitive forensics – one powerful performance at a time.