Stoa Logo
2025

Annual
Report

Stoa Christian Homeschool
Speech & Debate

Training homeschool students to speak boldly and change the world for Christ.

StoaUSA.org

Inside This Report

01
Leadership Message
A year of growth & impact
3
02
Year in Review
2025 by the numbers
4
03
Expanding Our Impact
National reach & growth
5
04
Key Accomplishments
2025 highlights
6
05
NITOC Spotlight
National championship
7
06
Community Voices
Testimonials
8
07
Financial Overview
Faithful stewardship
9
08
Looking Ahead
Vision for 2026
10
09
Committees & Volunteers
Servant leadership
11
10
Leadership
Board & Executive Director
12
11
Our Sponsors
Partnership & support
13
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 2
Message from Leadership

A Year of Growth & Impact

Reflecting on God's faithfulness in 2025

Leadership team or community gathering

Dear Stoa Community,

As we reflect on the 2025 season, we are filled with gratitude for the work God is doing in Stoa. This has been a year of growth, innovation, and impact made possible by the dedication of our coaches, the enthusiasm of our students, and the unwavering support of families like yours.

The launch of our new software platform, StoaHub, marks a significant milestone in Stoa's history. This digital transformation has not only streamlined our operations but has empowered families and coaches with better tools for registration, communication, and tournament management.

Our geographic expansion continues to exceed expectations. We welcomed new clubs in regions of the country that have long needed access to quality Christian homeschool speech and debate education and opportunities. Each new club across the country represents families who are now connected to a nationwide community of students learning to articulate truth with grace and confidence.

The numbers tell an encouraging story of record tournament participation, increased membership, and expanding reach. Behind every statistic is a student discovering their voice, a coach investing in the next generation, and a family committed to equipping their children for Christian leadership.

As we look ahead to 2026, we remain firmly committed to our mission of training homeschool students to speak boldly and change the world for Christ.

Lynda Sloneker
President, Stoa Board of Directors
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 3
2025 Season

Year in Review

Celebrating growth, impact, and God's faithfulness

2,241
Competing Students
Students from across the nation developing their gifts in speech and debate
1,448
Families
Families from coast to coast committed to excellence in speech and debate
↗ +6% from 2024
165
Active Clubs
Expanding access to quality Christian speech and debate training
↗ +11% from 2024
97
Tournaments
Hosted across the nation, providing opportunities for students to grow and excel
↗ +8% from 2024
35
States
Represented in our Stoa community, with members competing from every region of the country
↗ +6% from 2024

Behind every statistic is a student discovering their voice and a family committed to raising leaders for Christ.

Debate round in action
Awards ceremony or celebration
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 4
National Reach

Expanding Our Impact

Growing our community and impact across America

35
Operating States
70%
US Coverage
States with Stoa Families
No Stoa Families Yet
55
New Clubs
6
New States

Top 5 States by Membership

#1 California
#2 Colorado
#3 Texas
#4 Washington
#5 Virginia
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 5
2025 Highlights

Key Accomplishments

Milestones and innovations from the season

Major event or accomplishment
💻

Software Platform Launch

Successfully launched StoaHub, integrating league registration, tournament operations, and member resources into one unified platform. This digital advancement has simplified administrative tasks and improved communication for students, coaches, and tournament directors.

⭐

Record Judge Participation at NITOC

The 2025 National Invitational Tournament of Champions saw record-breaking judge participation with committed volunteers ensuring every round was covered with the optimum number of judges. This was the best community judge turnout we have seen at NITOC in the history of the league.

📖

Enhanced Training Resources

Expanded our visual library with numerous new training videos, held regular training webinars throughout the season, and developed a comprehensive introductory video series for Lincoln Douglas Debate. These resources empower coaches and students across the nation.

✓

Tournament Excellence

Local clubs hosted 97 tournaments during the 2024-2025 season. This accomplishment represents an incalculable number of hours by our local clubs and families to provide exceptional opportunities for competition and character development.

$

Grew Sponsor Base

Expanded our partnership network with new sponsors who share our vision, enabling us to keep costs accessible while maintaining excellence in all aspects of the league.

Excellence in speech and debate is not just about winning—it's about developing character, confidence, and conviction.

Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 6
NITOC 2025

NITOC Spotlight

Celebrating excellence at our premier national tournament

Worth It!
2025 National Invitational Tournament of Champions
Oral Roberts University • Tulsa, Oklahoma • May 25-31

The National Invitational Tournament of Champions (NITOC) is Stoa's premier event—a celebration of excellence that gathers the nation's most accomplished competitors for a week of inspiring competition, meaningful fellowship, and Christ-centered community. This year's theme, "Worth It!", reminded participants that the time, effort, and dedication invested in developing their gifts for God's glory holds lasting value.

NITOC 2025 was one of our most successful championships to date. A total of 576 students from 443 families competed across 12 speech events and 3 debate formats. This remarkable event was made possible by the sacrificial service of more than 1,000 volunteer judges, who generously offered their time to provide thoughtful feedback and ensure fair and encouraging evaluation for every competitor.

NITOC is more than a tournament—it is a community. Throughout the week, students and families enjoyed intentional fellowship, special social events, and opportunities to build lifelong friendships. The tournament also offered an astounding $7.3 million in scholarship opportunities, recognizing outstanding competitive achievement. While these scholarships honor excellence in performance, Stoa continues to cherish and elevate the values of integrity, Christlike character, and servant-hearted leadership at the heart of all we do.

NITOC competition round or stage Students socializing or award winners
576
Competitors
443
Families
1,025
Judges
24
States
15
Total Events
$7.3M
In Scholarships Offered
★

Special Awards

NITOC 2025 recognized exceptional achievement through four prestigious awards. The Founders Awards honored students who demonstrated remarkable versatility by competing in at least one event from each of Stoa's five competition categories. The Mike Winther Award celebrated a student whose exemplary character reflects Christ in student leadership and civic involvement. The Servant Heart Award recognized a student who has used the skills developed through Stoa to serve their community in meaningful and impactful ways. Finally, the Lana Owen Award was presented to the dedicated judge who served the tournament by judging the most rounds, embodying sacrificial service to the community.

♥

Community & Fellowship

NITOC is as much about building community as it is about competition. Throughout the week, students and parents participated in daily social events designed to foster connection, celebration, and fun. From student gatherings that sparked new friendships to parent fellowship opportunities that strengthened the broader Stoa family, these intentional moments of community reminded everyone that Stoa is more than a league—it's a family united by shared values and a common mission.

Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 7
Community Impact

Voices from Our Community

Hear from students, parents, and coaches about the impact Stoa has made

A

I appreciate the Stoa community's commitment to Christian values. Our faith determines our values, and our values drive our actions. Stoa becomes a training ground for students to build "muscle memory." Students practice integrity, honesty, kindness, and sportsmanship. When students—years down the road, perhaps in college or in the workforce—face a tough moral decision, they will have the "muscle memory" to react quickly and correctly.

Stoa Alumnus
Former Competitor
S

Stoa has seriously changed my life for the better. My friends and family can testify I have become a better person since joining Stoa. The more tournaments I go to, the more people I see that love the LORD and care about others. I'm so thankful for the amount of time and effort that our club leaders, our parents, and those on the Stoa board give for our improvement as people.

Current Stoa Student
Competitor
P

I love watching these kids compete against each other and then turn around and root each other on. It is the most "other-worldly" scene to behold when you see students build up and encourage their competition. Also, there is a complete lack of class and age loyalty. Repeatedly, I saw seniors and juniors hanging out and supporting my eighth grader. Friendships that span that large age gap is a testimony to the sweetness of this community.

Stoa Parent
Parent of Competitor
C

They are our future. You will be blown away by our future leaders. These kids work really, really hard. You will walk away being excited about our future leaders. I guarantee it.

Community Judge
Tournament Volunteer
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 8
Financial Overview

Faithful Stewardship

Honoring resources entrusted to us

$
$410K
Total Assets
⚖
$26K
Liabilities
✓
$384K
Net Assets

Revenue Sources Breakdown

NITOC Income 37%
37%
Membership Dues 36%
36%
Sponsorships 11%
11%
Other 10%
10%
Donations 6%
6%

Every student we equip today is a leader prepared to speak truth boldly tomorrow. This is how we change the world—one voice at a time.

Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 9
Vision 2026

Looking Ahead

Our vision for 2026 and beyond

⚡

Digital Transformation

Complete StoaHub Launch: Fully implement all tabulation and ballot administration features to streamline tournament operations.

Launch New Website: Create a modern, user-friendly online presence that better serves our community.

Fresh Branding: Update our visual identity to reflect Stoa's growth and vision for the future.

↗

Growth & Expansion

Grow Membership: Reach more homeschool families across the nation with the benefits of Stoa.

Increase Clubs & Tournaments: Support the formation of new local clubs and expand competition opportunities nationwide.

Alumni Connection: Build stronger networking opportunities for former students to mentor current members and support growth.

◆

Training & Equipping

Advanced Judge Training: Develop specialized programs to elevate judging excellence and consistency.

More Equipping Webinars: Offer regular online training for coaches, students, and judges.

Enhanced Resources: Continue expanding our library of training materials and educational content.

✦

Organizational Excellence

Updated Mission, Vision & Values: Revise and articulate our core statements to guide Stoa's future direction with clarity and purpose, ensuring every initiative aligns with our foundational commitments to Christ-centered speech and debate excellence.

Join Us in Making an Impact

Whether you're a current member, potential sponsor, or interested family, we invite you to be part of the Stoa community. Together, we're raising up the next generation of articulate, confident leaders who will impact their culture for Christ.

Students in action or community gathering
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 10
Volunteer Leadership

Committees & Volunteers

Dedicated servants making Stoa possible

Stoa's success is built on the faithful service of hundreds of volunteers who serve on committees, judge at tournaments, coach students, and support our mission in countless ways. We are deeply grateful for these dedicated individuals who give their time, expertise, and passion to help homeschool students grow in speech and debate excellence.

Volunteers at work
Stoa Committees

Serving with Excellence

🤝
Advancement & Partnerships
Chair: Stephanie Dropping
Develops strategic partnerships and fundraising initiatives to ensure Stoa's continued growth and financial sustainability.
🎓
Alumni
Chair: Denise Vasquez-Sprimont
Connects former Stoa students and maintains our alumni network to foster lifelong relationships and mentorship opportunities.
📣
Communications
Chairs: JoAnn Pattara and Julie Earnest
Manages all internal and external communications, keeping our community informed and engaged throughout the year.
⚖️
Debate
Chair: Danny Lyda
Develops debate event rules, resolutions, and resources to help students excel in Lincoln-Douglas, Team Policy, and Parliamentary debate.
📊
Marketing
Chair: Josh Axelberd
Creates brand awareness and outreach strategies to introduce new families to the benefits of Stoa speech and debate.
🏆
NITOC Event Committee
Chair: Trish Youmans
Works with Tournament Directors and Stoa leadership to support the planning and preparation for an exceptional NITOC experience for competitors and families.
🙏
Prayer Force
Chair: Allisha Speed
Provides prayer support for Stoa events, students, families, and leadership, covering our community in faithful intercession.
🎤
Speech
Chair: Anna Plummer
Develops speech event rules, judging standards, and training resources to help students excel in all speech categories.
⚙️
Tools & Tabulation
Chair: Mike Diaz
Develops, maintains, and enhances Stoa's software platform and supports tabulation staff at local tournaments.
📚
Training & Development
Chair: Michelle Hawkinson
Creates educational resources, workshops, and coaching materials to equip students, coaches, and judges for success.
📍
Venue Search
Chair: Shelley DeJager
Identifies and secures NITOC venues for our annual event.
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 11
Our Leaders

Stoa Leadership

Stoa is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors and Executive Director who are committed to our mission of training homeschool students to speak boldly and change the world for Christ.

Board of Directors
Lynda Sloneker
Lynda Sloneker
President
Theresa Ellington
Theresa Ellington
Treasurer
Janice Tham
Janice
Tham
Secretary
Mary Winther
Mary Winther
Member
Kimberly Farley
Kimberly Farley
Member
Danny Hinton
Danny Hinton
Member
Wayne Johnson
Wayne Johnson
Member
Executive Director
Angela Childress
Angela Childress
Executive Director
Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 12
Our Partners

Thank You Sponsors

Grateful for the generous support of our ministry partners

Sponsors at an event or community scene

Become a Partner

Are you interested in supporting Stoa's mission? We would love to explore partnership opportunities with organizations that share our commitment to training students who will speak boldly for Christ.

Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 13
Our Partners

2025 Sponsors

Thank you to our generous partners

Stoa 2025 Annual Report Page 14

Our Mission

To train homeschool students to speak boldly and change the world for Christ.

Join the Stoa Community

Whether you're a homeschool family looking to get involved, a potential sponsor, or interested in supporting our mission, we'd love to connect with you.

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