Spring Branch ISD Featured News

The speech and debate team at Spring Woods High School (SWHS) has long served as a training ground for articulate, analytical and confident individuals.

The program has produced students who have gone on to attend prestigious schools such as George Washington University, the University of Michigan, the University of Pennsylvania, Trinity University, the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University, to name just a few.

This fall, Mohammad Shahmir Qaisar, a senior, will head to Yale University on a full-ride scholarship with aspirations to study law or mechanical engineering — something he still can’t quite believe.

“The day before I received my Yale acceptance notice, I learned that Rice had rejected my application. I wasn’t feeling too great about things and was almost certain I wouldn’t get into Yale,” Shahmir said.

He recalls playing with his baby sister when the YouTube video featuring the iconic Yale bulldog mascot landed in his inbox.

“I really thought that maybe I accidentally applied to Yale College and not Yale University. I didn’t think I stood a chance,” he said, laughing.

But the YouTube video was indeed from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and Shahmir couldn’t be more excited.

It’s not surprising that Yale accepted Shahmir, though. A standout student on the award-winning SWHS speech and debate team, he has excelled in congressional debate and extemporaneous speaking. He has qualified for the University Interscholastic League state tournaments and competed in elite national events such as the Harvard Invitational and Glenbrook Tournament. To top it off, his SAT score was an impressive 1550.

He is also a recipient of the prestigious Academic All-American recognition — a distinction that requires not only exceptional academic achievement but also a minimum of 750 points from the National Speech and Debate Association. Shahmir has earned more than 1,282 points, underscoring his dedication, skill and leadership in the activity.

“Shahmir is the kind of student who embodies the best of our speech and debate program,” said Vicky Beard, speech and debate teacher at SWHS. “He’s a natural public speaker, an excellent writer and a self-assured leader. He is always looking for opportunities to lift others up.”

For Shahmir, speech and debate were much more than extracurricular activities. When he moved to Spring Branch Independent School District (SBISD) three years ago, they became his anchor — helping him find his voice, community and, most importantly, his confidence.

“I used to have a stutter growing up,” Shahmir said. “Speech and debate helped me overcome it.”

He has used that experience to mentor younger speech and debate students, fostering a culture of trust and camaraderie on the team and encouraging them to reach their full potential.

“Speech and debate didn’t just teach me how to argue effectively or speak — it gave me an outlet and taught me how to believe in myself,” Shahmir said. “It showed me that my voice matters, and I’m looking forward to using those skills to make my mark in the world.”

As Shahmir prepares to join Yale University’s incoming class, he carries the lessons and legacy of the SWHS speech and debate team, propelling him to achieve great things.

#SBISDProud