Louise Pedersen Has An All-American Voice

When senior Louise Pedersen speaks, everyone listens. Her careful articulation of her words and confident demeanor makes her a powerful debater.
So it was no surprise when she was awarded Academic All-American for debate.
Pedersen is the Highland debate team captain, activist, International Baccalaureate (IB) student, and jazz band trumpet player who always has time for the things she loves.
From the hours spent preparing her topic for a debate to the tireless time spent studying for her IB courses, Pedersen finds the time to do it all.
This year, Pedersen was a recipient of the Academic All-American award in debate for her GPA, character, leadership, and Superior Distinction (750 points earned).
“Less than 1% of students receive the All American Award,” J. Scott Wunn, Executive Director of the National Speech & Debate Association said last year in a press release announcing the awardees. “These exemplary students are making a difference in their schools and communities and are the future leaders of our country.”
Pedersen debates in the Lincoln-Douglas category where she receives an United States ethical or philosophical topic prior to the one-on-one debate. She has received topics debating things like universal healthcare, adopting foreign policy, the right to housing, and AI. The topics rotate every two months.
“Currently, the topic is ‘the United States ought to rewild public lands,’” Pedersen said.
She has done debate for all four years of high school as well as in middle school. All throughout her debate journey, she has debated in the Lincoln-Douglas category where she has grown into a mentor for younger students.
“Just last week, she taught a lesson to the debate class about cross-examination,” debate coach Creed Archibald said. “The younger debaters were engrossed by her words. They respect her as an accomplished debater, and they listen when she shares her hard-earned wisdom.”
Pedersen competed in about 10 debate tournaments last year and finished the year qualifying for the 2025 National Speech and Debate Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa where she finished in the top third of about 1,000 Lincoln-Douglas debaters.
“I think debate has improved my ability to do everything,” Pederesen said. “From thinking on my feet to being a critical thinker and a better researcher. . . none of those things I anticipated when I started but I am so, so grateful for them.”
Pedersen has made lifelong friendships through debate. One friend she met through debate camp at the University of Utah. They went up against each other at the Utah Debate State Championships.
“After we went up against each other for the last time, we tied for third,” Pedersen said. “He told me, ‘I think you can go all the way.”
Debate is a way for many people to meet like-minded peers that help them become better debaters.
Pedersen is a strong voice when it comes to activism and it doesn’t go without notice.
“She has such strong feelings towards so many things, and she puts them to good use,” senior debate member Takarah Parker said.
The goal of a debate program may be to help students improve their public speaking skills, but it also taught Pedersen something else: the prevalence of sexism. Pedersen has had opponents who talk down to her and dismiss her skills, but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming the outstanding person that she is today.
But her impressive biography doesn’t end there. Pedersen is published in multiple publications for her short stories including an upcoming one for a narrative essay about the Great Salt Lake in a collection by Torrey House Press. She has also been published in Mosaic Magazine, Words With Height, The Imperfect Zine, and more.
Pedersen has also been in multiple bands where she has sung and played the guitar. She even has an album called Walking In The Shadows with her band, the Dayside.
Pedersen was recently admitted to Harvard University and will be attending in the fall to study government.
With graduation in the midst for Pedersen, she reflects on the ups and downs that debate has brought her.
“[Debate] is one of the hardest things you’ll do, but it’s totally worth it. That’s my disclaimer,” Pederesen said.