Cavalier Receives IHSAA Speech Award

Congratulations to Ms. KImberly Cavalier upon receiving the Iowa High School Speech Association Richard Riggleman New Speech Coach Award. Cavalier was surprised by Stacy S. Hansen, IHSSA Executive Director, via Zoom earlier today to receive this award.

The Richard Riggleman Young Speech Coach Award was established by Richard Riggleman of Deloit, Iowa to reward a second or third year IHSSA speech coach and teacher. Mr. Riggleman was an active IHSSA coach for over 30 years and still remains very active with the IHSSA– with a special love for debate. In 1995, Mr. Riggleman gifted an endowment fund of $56,000 to honor a new speech coach and teacher. Richard Riggleman, the award's namesake, was an IHSSA coach for over 30 years and remains actively involved as a judge and contest manager.  Richard Riggleman was inducted into the IHSSA Hall of Fame in 1994.

The Richard Riggleman Speech Coach Award, presented by the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA), is designed to honor young speech coaches who have made significant contributions to speech and debate activities in Iowa schools. The award consists of a $1,000 stipend, renewable for up to two additional years, for a total of $3,000. 

The Riggleman Award is the first of its kind that has been established with the IHSSA. The profile of the recipient reflects: a commitment and demonstration of excellence in coaching speech, large group events, individual events, and/or debate; and inclusion and past experience in high school or college speech activities as well as a commitment to the future of the IHSSA programming.

To qualify, coaches must demonstrate excellence in coaching and a history of personal involvement in high school or college speech activities. The award is typically presented at the IHSSA Coaches Convention, and recipients are chosen for their dedication to fostering students' public speaking skills and overall growth in the speech community. 

Cavalier will be honored at the IHSSA Convention in Ames at the Gateway Hotel on Saturday, October 12.