[5] Stoa is defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary as “an ancient Greek portico usually walled at the back with a front colonnade designed to afford a sheltered promenade.”[6] The Stoa was a common fixture of many towns in Ancient Greece and was used as a place where people could debate and discuss their ideas.

[2] Its website explains that its objective is “to train Christian home schooled youth in speech and debate in order to better communicate a Biblical worldview.”[1] Stoa USA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers.

It is governed by a board of directors who oversee its day-to-day operations and propose rule amendments which affect competitors nationwide.

[10] Some locally-run tournaments attract hundreds of Stoa competitors each year, such as the one typically held in the spring at Concordia University in Irvine, CA.

[12] Speechranks was created in 2010 for promoting transparency and fairness in the Christian homeschool forensics community.

[16] Speechranks requirements were drafted by Isaiah McPeak, with development chaired by Dr. Van Schalin and programmed by Connor McKay.

[19] Each year in late May or early June, the Stoa Board of Directors hosts the National Invitational Tournament of Champions, commonly referred to as NITOC.