Caleb and Sophie Klomparens of Arlington and Collin Chung of Warm Beach were among locals who competed.

Caleb, a senior, said when going through the newspaper he looked for a balance of stories and topics, ranging from the economy to sports.

He said he wanted to try broadcasting at the urging of others.

“Everybody tells me I have a radio voice,” he said.

Collin, a freshman, said because so much of the news is depressing, he looked more for inspiring, refreshing stories. His lead story was about Todd Duitsman, the Lakewood man who is learning to walk again after being paralyzed in a body surfing accident in Hawaii last summer.

“He goes to my church,” Collin said of Duitsman.

The students used a variety of stories in their broadcasts: the new recovery director at Marysville-Pilchuck High School; an obituary; the question of the week on the Seahawks; senior projects on the way out; the new Lakewood basketball coach; school technology on the increase; the newspapers’ donation to aid in the fight against breast cancer.

Because they are home-schooled, all three said they haven’t taken a broadcasting class. Everything they have learned is from observation.

“We listen to talk radio and imitate the news sound, or ‘radio voice,'” Caleb said.

The Klomparens are entirely home-schooled, while Collins takes two classes at home and four at Stanwood High. All three belong to the Skagit Defenders Speech and Debate Club.

All three agreed they have an advantage over public school students when it comes to speech and debate skills.

“Public schools are more rigid in their formats and schedules,” Caleb said. Home schools “are far more flexible.”

Sophie added, “You can go at your own pace. We’re more independent and manage our own education.”

Caleb said his dad teaches at Marysville Getchell High School, and the debate program there is inadequate compared with their club.

“Public schools are not as competitive,” he said.

Sophie, a junior, is so into speech and debate that she competes in five classifications. At her previous meet, she made the finals in all five.

She became interested in debate when her family would have discussions after watching movies.

Her favorite category is called Mars Hill. Contestants have talk about a different topic each round.

“You have to connect popular culture to universal truth,” meaning Christian facts, she said.

The goal of the entire Northern Lights Challenge at Emmanuel Baptist Church in Mount Vernon was for students to improve communication skills, build friendships and to someday have an impact on our culture.

Some of the categories in the Jan. 30 event included:

•Lincoln-Douglas debaters will argue: When in conflict, an individual’s freedom of speech should be valued above a community’s moral standards.

•Team Policy debaters with argue: The U.S. government should substantially reform its electronic surveillance law.

•Impromptu is available for novice students only. We encourage new students to take up this challenge. Learn to think quickly on-the-spot and overcome the fear of public speaking.