DIXFIELD – The Dirigo High School Speech and Debate Team members are shifting into high gear in order to send their national qualifier, B.J. McCollister, to the national tournament in Wichita, Kan.

McCollister earned first place in Lincoln-Douglas style debating at the Maine District Qualifying Tournament for the National Forensic League in February. It allows him and a second-place qualifier from Deering High School to represent Maine at the national tournament in Wichita beginning on June 17.

They will compete against approximately 250 other qualifiers in a tournament that includes other forms of debate and speech involving about 2,000 competitors overall.

The team has begun fundraising to send McCollister, his father and part of the team to the tournament. A public supper was held in Canton on April 28. Additional events include a public supper at the high school on May 12; a car wash on May 26 at the Mexico Wal-Mart; and a talent show at the high school on June 2.

At all events, raffle tickets will be sold for an iPod Shuffle to be drawn at the end of the talent show. Donations to help the team will be accepted at: Debate Team Fundraising, Dirigo High School, 145 Weld St., Dixfield, ME 04224.

Checks should be made out to Dirigo High School. For more information about the team, see their Web site at http://dirigodebate.googlepages.com/.