by Jill Ragar Esfeld
Special to The Leaven
ROELAND PARK — Through 40 years of teaching and coaching, Melissa Reynolds has guided the Bishop Miege High School debate and forensics teams here through enough championships, awards and honors to fill a trophy case.
In 2024, Reynolds received a 7th Diamond Award — one of the highest honors a coach can achieve as part of the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA).
Last year, she was recognized as an Ingram’s Magazine 2025 Icon of Education.
And recently, the Miege debate team became an elite member of the National Speech and Debate Association’s 200 Club, reflecting high levels of competitive excellence and student participation.
To honor Reynolds and her lasting impact on the school’s debate and forensics programs, a group of alumni launched a new scholarship fund through Bridge to the Future, a program that assists the school with fundraising efforts.
On Oct. 1, Miege celebrated the new Melissa Reynolds Scholarship.
President Mike Riley welcomed many faculty, staff, former students and their parents to the event, sharing quotes from scholarship contributors who expressed appreciation for Reynolds’ teaching.
Abigail Oliver, class of 2005, thanked Reynolds for the training she has used throughout her life.
“Learning how to speak and debate taught me to find my voice, to think on my feet, to listen carefully and to express my thoughts with confidence,” she said.
“These lessons have stayed with me long after the competitions ended,” she added.
Andrew Marino, class of 1997, said he attributes much of his business success to what he learned in Reynolds’ class.
“There’s no way that I would have the professional and academic success that I’ve had, had it not been for Mrs. Reynolds,” said Marino. “The organization and the ability to reason and make arguments when you’re going through college English classes or law school or whatever you’re doing are just invaluable.”
Students and parents have worked together to raise more than $50,000 for the Melissa Reynolds Scholarship fund. As a result, this year and every school year in the future, one student will receive a $2,000 scholarship.
