Tom grew up in Lincoln and graduated from Lincoln Southeast in 2003, subsequently receiving a B.A. from Swarthmore College and a M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Chicago. He now lives in Lincoln with his wife and three sons. Tom has been active in the speech and debate community since he was in high school—first as a high school debate competitor, then as an assistant debate coach in college, and, after college, as a classroom debate teacher at a school in Dallas. Since 2015, Tom has been the CEO of Debate Coaching Academy (DCA), which has grown to be a suite of speech and debate coaching businesses that teach students critical thinking, public speaking, and debating skills. DCA teaches roughly 2,500 students per year in a variety of formats, including online group courses and 1-on-1 tutoring, in-person after-school classes, and summer institutes hosted at colleges and universities.
Lincoln East Rotary will have its annual Christmas Dinner at Wilderness Ridge on Wednesday, December 2. More details to follow. Please put it on your calendars!
An edible chicken lunch was served to all 36 tables of 10 people very quickly and Taryn Vanderford from 10/11 Now, acting as Master of Ceremonies started the program right on time. Secretary of State, Bob Evnen, Lincoln Mayor, Leirion Gylor Baird and Gretchen Bren, our Rotary District Governor all addressed the assembly and congratulated the employees of Clark & Enersen who won the Salute to Business award. Perhaps even more impressive, Taryn ended the program a few minutes early. A good time was had by all!
