By Jet Burnham | [email protected]

Monique Cauley is leaving her mark at Providence Hall High School.

“I'm trying to leave as many resources as I can for the next generation,” she said. This includes a book of resources she compiled for future presidencies of the school’s National Honor Society. 

Monique has also had an impact on the culture of the school, especially among students in the International Baccalaureate program, who tend to be independent and competitive.

“One of the things that we've worked on, just as a group and individually, is dismantling the idea that education knowledge has to be a commodity,” Monique said. “It's the feeling of free-flowing knowledge that actually contributes to being more productive.”

Monique pushed for more study groups and for students to get to know their peers better. She also helped promote the school’s Gay Straight Alliance club and its ideals.

Monique’s biggest effect at PHHS is her legacy of excellence in debate. As one of the most decorated debaters in the state, she is ranked No. 1 in the state in her event. She won three state championships, several region titles and qualified for the National Debate Tournament four years in a row. She received the Outstanding Distinction Award from the National Speech and Debate Association.

Debate coach Steve Porter said Monique is an example and mentor.

“She has been a remarkable student and has won the admiration and respect of her peers and of her opponents as well,” he said. “She has been a great leader and an incredible person. She has left her mark on our team in a lot of ways.”

Monique is thrilled to leave a legacy of excellence.

“I have my name on a plaque in the school, which is really exciting because it is a little piece of my legacy left with the students who will come generations after me,” she said. “But it's also for myself and knowing that I've worked so hard to become a great communicator and to have these abilities to analyze on the spot. I feel like those kinds of things will follow me into the future.”

Her plans for the future include studying pre-law at Fordham University in New York and spending a year or two in the Peace Corps before becoming a lawyer.