From Lift off to Legacy

Every summer, something special happens and it’s not in a college lecture hall or a fancy dorm, but in bedrooms, living rooms, and anywhere Wi-Fi can reach. Strangers become teammates. Students who once doubted their voices start to believe in them. That’s the magic of Space City Camp.

More than just a speech and debate camp, Space City is a student-centered, community-powered movement. It began with students from Alief, a predominantly immigrant, low-income community in Houston Texas. Students who experienced systemic barriers to education and opportunity firsthand. Students who knew what it felt like to be overlooked or under-resourced, Space City was built to say: You belong here.

At its core the mission is simple but radical: to provide high-quality, culturally relevant speech and debate education to students who are often left out of traditional pipelines. Space City exists to serve those who don’t have private coaching, well-funded programs, or generational access to elite institutions. It’s about building power where it’s been denied, and showing students that their voice is valuable and vital.

The camp spans several days of workshops, one-on-one coaching, group activities, and end-of-week performances. Whether you’re a first-timer or a national finalist, you leave with more than technique. You leave with a team. A sense of pride. A sense of place.

And you can feel that heart in every session, every breakout room, every message in the chat. It’s a place where growth doesn’t come from pressure instead, it comes from care.

You see that care in students like Annie Chen, who showed up to Space City with little extemp experience and left with not only skills but something deeper: A spark, One that went home with her, back to her team, her community, and back to Space City again.

“Last year when I attended Space City Camp, I was exposed to extemp for the first time, minus a couple of local tournaments. After a week of instruction and the camp tournament, I fell in love with extemp and all of its nuances, from substructure to delivery. Coming from a school with no extemp team or resources, I was (and still am) grateful for the knowledge I learned and carried back to my team, the community I met, and the opportunities I unlocked through SCC. As I return as a volunteer this year, I have the chance to be on the giving end, and I hope I can share my experience with future extempers who are also looking to grow. Because extemp is an ever-changing event, I also hope to learn from other students and volunteers. I strongly believe extemp isn’t just about delivering a polished seven-minute speech, it’s also about becoming advocates and activists, which starts at a camp like Space City.”

That full-circle moment is the core of what makes this camp so special. The people who show up don’t just pass through, they pour back in.

And the beauty of Space City is that the growth doesn’t stop at one event. Whether it’s Extemp, Interp, or debating in World Schools, every student is met with intention and care. The camp isn’t just a one-size-fits-all experience it’s tailored to elevate each student’s event, story, and style.

Take Victory Okoroji, for example. A Hastings High School graduate and NSDA national champion in Program Oral Interp. From uncertain freshman to national finalist, her story is a reflection of what happens when students are seen, believed in, and supported all the way through.

“I started Space City Camp because of Dara, she encouraged me to try it out, and I’m so glad I listened. What kept me coming back year after year wasn’t just the great coaching I got from it, it was the community. Space City became a place where I felt seen, supported, and pushed to grow not just as a speaker, but as a person. I’ve gone from a nervous freshman figuring out what POI even stood for to a confident senior with national experience, and this camp has been with me every step of the way. One of the things I love most is that it’s completely free, which means students who might not have access to fancy resources or private coaching still get a fair shot at success. That kind of equity matters. Now, I’m proud to be part of the mentor team, giving back to the same community that poured into me. Watching new students find their voice the same way I did is the most full-circle feeling ever.”

Victory’s story reminds us that growth doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in communities and it happens in spaces where students are encouraged not just to speak well, .but to speak boldly, and speak as themselves. Her journey is proof that Space City isn’t just changing how students perform. It’s changing how they see themselves.

And for students like Nasim Aleem, that support has been everything. As a national finalist in Program Oral Interp, Nasim knows what elite training can do. But he also knows what it feels like when that training is out of reach.

“I first heard about Space City Camp the year after I attended UTNIF, which, if you don’t know, is a prestigious speech and debate camp that is incredibly useful. I’m now part of the UT Speech Team, so I know firsthand how valuable that program is in shaping who you are as a competitor.

I would not be the performer I am today without UTNIF, so I don’t want to discredit that at all. But I couldn’t afford to go on my own. It was actually my coach who made it possible for me. Going into my senior year, that kind of support just didn’t exist. There was no budget for it at my school, and it simply wasn’t feasible. I was disappointed and didn’t know what was next for me in speech until I heard about Space City Camp.”

That’s the hard truth. Talent isn’t the issue. It’s access. And that’s exactly the gap Space City is closing. It’s a camp that meets students where they are financially, emotionally, academically and lifts them up.

“That’s when I was connected with my now forever mentor, Lavontae Morrow, a collegiate speech competitor with so many of his own merits. And while I learned the basics at UTNIF and will always be grateful for that, it was Lavontae and Space City that took me to the next level. UTNIF helped me become a national semifinalist. But it was the mentorship and care I received through Space City, especially from someone who continued to guide me through the season when he didn’t have to, that landed me on the final stage.”

What makes this story hit even harder is that Nasim didn’t just rise alone he came back to lift others:

“For a kid like me, who really thought their season was over, Space City saved that year. Now, through volunteering as a mentor myself, my only goal is to give back with the same level of intensity and respect I was shown. I know how scary and isolating it can feel to enter a competitive season without support or a strong program behind you, and I just want to be that support for someone else.”

That same spirit lives on in students like Poorvi Kumar, a World Schools debate leader who found more than just technique at Space City, she found her spark again.

“Space City Camp completely reignited my passion for speech and debate at a time when I honestly felt burnt out. From the moment I arrived, the energy was electric and the coaching was nothing short of phenomenal. But, what made SCC stand out the most was how invested the instructors were, not just during camp, but long after it ended. People like Diego and Eb kept showing up for us throughout the year, checking in, cheering us on, and celebrating our growth. It made me feel like I was part of something bigger than just a summer camp. SCC isn’t just where I became a better debater; it’s where I found my love for the activity all over again. It’s fun, inspiring, and easily one of the best decisions I’ve made. Always excited to give back and be a part of this community!”

That’s the soul of Space City. It’s not just about medals or final rounds, it’s about building something lasting. A chain of care. A circle of community.

Because beyond drills and ballots, Space City is about belonging. For many students, it’s the first time they’ve been in a room full of people who look like them, talk like them, and dream like them. It’s a place where you don’t have to water yourself down to fit in. You get to be more of who you are and that makes your performance stronger.

Year after year, Space City alumni final at national tournaments, captain their school teams, and return as coaches. But the real win is the confidence they carry. The belief that their voice matters. The proof that when students are given the tools, the time, and the trust they rise.

In a world where so much of your success and reach depends on your school’s budget or your zip code, Space City Camp is proof that excellence shouldn’t come with a price tag. Talent lives everywhere. And when it’s nurtured it soars.