As he looked around, it became evident that despite their different personalities and backgrounds they were a family.

Senior Brett Howard joined the debate team his junior year of high school and found his own personal “hero” in his coach, speech teacher Stefanie Suto.

 “She created a place where people who normally never would have talked to each other came together and worked as a family,” Howard said.

 Without debate in his life, Howard said he believes his life would be very different.

 “The team is how I coped with everything in my life,” Howard said. “Without them and without Ms. Suto pushing me to be the best I could be, I wouldn’t be who I am today.”

 Howard said that Suto mentored him through all the hardships in his life.

 “Two years ago I was going through a really hard time and she was able to help me through it,” Howard said. “She was always there to talk to and get me through anything that was happening at the time.”

 According to Howard, Suto provided the motivation he needed to be successful in his endeavors.

 “She is the one person in high school who really pushed me to work,” Howard said. “It’s because of her that I’m a two-time state qualifier.”

 When advising others to join the team, Howard says that it will be one of the best decisions they will ever make.

“Ms. Suto is an amazing coach,” Howard said. “She knows what everyone’s strengths are and will push each person in their individual events so that you will be successful.”

Howard said that the debate team was where he found a home during high school.

 “When I worked on debate with my friends, I felt like I had a real family,” Howard said. “She was kind of like a mother. The team called her “Mama Hawk,” who always looks after her chickadees.”