Mightier - High School Debate in Association with NAUDL

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Meet the Debaters

Mentors See All

Boston Debate League Alumni Say Policy Debate Can Save Higher Education

The former debaters and current undergraduate students say students coming to college with a debate foundation will contribute to better class discussions.

Policy debate is uniquely positioned to revitalize liberal education because it is innately accessible, Matteo Gleason and Amishai Goodman-Goldstein write.

World Schools Takes Away 'Gamification' of Debate, SVUDL Staff Says

"Unlike other formats, World School Styles resolutions are not decided on a national level," said debate coach Rachel Zubrin. "Rather, each tournament features several topics."

Zubrin has developed both World Schools teams and leagues for middle school and high school debaters globally.

NAUDL's Coach of the Year Says Debate Made Her a 'Lifelong Learner'

"I'm a motivator," debate coach Jessica Wright-Crichlow said. "I have words to give you to motivate you and tell you you can do this."

This year, Wright-Crichlow was named the 2024 Coach of the Year by the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL), the first coach from the Bay Area Urban Debate League (BAUDL) to receive this honor.

Teams

Miami Debate League's Return to In-Person Debate Was a Matter of Survival

Virtual debate wasn't just detrimental to students—it affected the league's funding, according to Miami-Dade Urban Debate League Board Chair Osvaldo Garcia.

NAUDL 2024 Champions Say Real-Life Friendship Helped Them Win Tournament

"I feel like we both have something that the other one lacks," said Bianca Perkins of Chicago's Kenwood Academy High School.

WUDL Achieves First Tournament of Champions Spot With Sophomore Team

Debater Sitara Mazumdar said "it really took a village" to secure the team's second TOC qualifying bid, including hours of "targeted prep" and league help.

Students

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NAUDL Debater of the Year Calls Award 'Cherry on Top' of Successful Career

Jun Kwon of Port of L.A. High School told Newsweek that the honorific is "a testament to how much I love the activity."

NAUDL Alum Uses Debate Skills to Advocate for the Disabled Community

Olivia Northcutt-Wyly said the debaters must strive for inclusivity and accessibility "so more people can experience the transformative power of debate."

NYU Student Rekindles 'Adventurous Flame' Through Debate

NYU pre-med student Emmanuel Makinde engaged "bizarre ideas" via meaningful discourse when he joined debate at his Washington, D.C., high school.

NYC Student Gives Thanks for Finding Community in Debate

Jazmine Chaves says that debate has given her "a sense of belonging and home" that she hasn't felt elsewhere to the same degree.

D.C. Debater Uses Argument Skills to Enact Change in City Schools

If he loses at a tournament, Haven Howard will "fully submerge" himself in researching a topic and view defeat "as a reason to gain knowledge about something."

Denver Student Says She 'Never Felt Important' Until She Joined Debate

Marianny Torres-Collado says participating in debate makes her "feel good" because she is able to engage with similar people, "so maybe I do belong."

SVUDL Debater Says I RESOLVE Features Issues 'My Own Family Experiences'

Junior Chloe Truong told Newsweek that "when I joined the I RESOLVE team, we were talking about issues that were actively impacting communities today."