Dorothy Clark, front, as Storyteller for Island by Candlelight with fellow ballet dancers Lily Sundstrom, top, Gabby Schall, middle left, and Sophie Yoke, middle right, at Blennerhassett Island October 2025. (Photo provided)

VIENNA – Dorothy Clark, 17, of Vienna earned seventh place out of 193 students from across the nation at the speech and debate NCFL Grand National Tournament in Washington D.C.

Clark, an incoming senior and the captain of the speech and debate team at Parkersburg High School, reminisced on the experience from Memorial Day weekend.

“It was absolutely crazy, but it was amazing and we compete everywhere and I just love it,” she said. “It’s very community-based and academic and everyone’s super friendly with each other and it’s amazing.”

Clark was born and raised in Vienna and said she adores the area. Among her favorite aspects of the Mid-Ohio Valley are the environment, the scenery, and the community.

“My favorite thing about the area is the strength of the community we have here,” she said. “I also am a really big fan of the wonderful environment we live in.”

Columbus ZooAide Dorothy Clark, left, talks with guests about Columbus Zoo and Aquarium’s partnership with the Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation organization at Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus August 2025. (Photo provided)

Clark considers herself an “outdoorsy girl” and she loves connecting with nature and spending as much time as she can outside. She said her backyard is mostly forest.

“If I’m not in school or at club or volunteering, you’ll find me outside somewhere just taking it all in,” said Clark.

Clark has completed her junior year and said she was excited about entering her final year in high school this fall. She said her goal is to stay on track and keep doing what she’s been doing.

“I’m not too worried about doing anything extravagant for my final year in high school, I want to make sure I go out as strongly as I came in,” she said. “I just want to remain the best student I can be.”

Clark joined the speech and debate club and Thespian Troupe #264 during her freshman year. She will be the president of speech and debate for a second year and president of the Thespian Troupe for the first time this upcoming year.

Dorothy Clark represents Thespian Troupe #264 performing contrasting monologues. She received an Outstanding Contrasting Monologues award at West Virginia University’s Performing Art Center in Morgantown March 2026. (Photo provided)

“I absolutely adore it … I had some friends recommend it to me and it was probably the best decision I made,” she said.

As the captain of speech and debate at PHS, Clark’s role has been to help the club members and guide them through their oratory practices.

“My role is to help guide students towards being their best selves on the team, and that entails helping them become more confident in themselves,” she said.

Clark said speech and debate is “a jack-of-all-trades” and the skills that are learned through being part of it can be applied to other areas of life.

“No matter what you plan to do in life, no matter what, speech and debate is going to help you,” said Clark.

Dorothy Clark as Snoopy at Parkersburg High School in the performance of “You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown” in the PHS auditorium March 2026. (Photo provided)

She said the debate group meets every other Friday to practice and improve their speeches for upcoming competitions.

Clark also has a passion for theatre, and as a member of Thespian Troupe #264, she performed in different roles for plays the group puts on. From Snoopy in “Charlie Brown” to a part in “Mean Girls,” Clark performed for fun and for competitions.

“I competed this year in contrasting monologues, I got outstanding,” she said. “I got to showcase at the state level in front of all the other thespian troops in the state.”

The group can compete in monologues, costume design, stage knot tying, design and makeup, and more.

Although she has an undeniable passion for speech and debate and theatre, Clark has aspirations of becoming a zoologist and specialize in animal science.

Parkersburg High School speech and debate team national qualifiers in Washington D.C. May 2026. From left, Sophie Yoke, Dorothy Clark, Lily Farinash, Hayden Carey, Derek Roberts, and Henry Berry in front of the Washington Monument. (Photo provided)

“I know it sounds like it doesn’t all connect, but it actually really does,” she said. Clark interviewed for an internship with the ZooAide program at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium for the summer and her speech and debate skills helped her secure a spot in the program.

Clark said the interviewer told her that students in theatre were excellent when it came to speaking to the public at the zoo.

“It was actually the thing that pushed me ahead of all the applicants,” she said. “It’s been an amazing experience.”

This summer marks Clark’s second year in the program and she said since she lives about two hours away from the zoo, she and her mom plan a weekend for her to schedule all her shifts at once.

“I love it there, I love the animals, and I love educating people, and it’s better than Disney World,” said Clark.

Dorothy Clark holds her Original Oratory Semi-Finalist trophy at the National Catholic Forensics League’s National Speech and Debate tournament at the Marriott Marquis in Washington D.C. May 24, 2026. (Photo provided)

Clark said she has hopes to come back as an adult volunteer or zoo aide once she graduates and is no longer eligible for the teen internship.

“The thing I care about most are the animals and the conservation aspect, so wherever I end up, whether that be in Columbus or Louisiana or California, as long as I’m with the animals, I’m not sure I care much where I end up,” she said.

She said working in Columbus would be great because it’s not far from her home. Clark said her mom would take her to museums and really inspired in her a fascination for animals and zoos.

Even though Clark has a year until she graduates from PHS, she said she has plans to major in zoology or animal behavior science and continue to receive a doctorate in environmental education.

“A lot of places offer different things … but again, I’m still kind of trying to figure everything out the best I can,” she said.

When Clark isn’t in theatre or speech and debate or at the zoo or in class, she spends her time hanging out with friends, reading books, volunteering at her local church, and attending dance classes. She also takes care of two dogs, which she said she loves and enjoys spending time with.

“I love to always be doing something, always keep my mind active and my body active and keep myself happy,” said Clark. “It’s (about) finding joy in those moments.”

Clark has been a member of various dance studios over the years as some studios have come and gone from the area.

“I love, love, love ballet,” she said. “It’s my dance of choice.”

Clark said she has been in dance for about 10 years, but she doesn’t compete anymore and her group meets recreationally.

“I love ballet for the art. I’ve always found it as such a beautiful art form,” she said.

She has been a member of Grace Baptist Church in Vienna and said she will be helping out at vacation bible school this summer.

“I’ve gone to this church since I was very small, and those people are like family to me,” said Clark.

Clark said she is excited for her senior year.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com

Columbus ZooAide Dorothy Clark, right, educates guests with Bobbie (the giraffe) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Columbus June 2026. (Photo provided)