A RIGOROUS CONTEST THAT THOROUGHLY CHALLEnGES STUDENTS' DEBATE SKILLS
The National Civics and Debate Championship is a rigorous contest that thoroughly challenges students' knowledge, debate skills and endurance. While most conventional debate tournaments require students to compete in only one event, this event, the first and only of its kind, requires students to compete in different debate events on each of three tournament days.
A TRIATHLON EVENT
Congressional
Debate
IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
EXTEMPORANEOUS DEBATE
The Great Debate: The National Civics and Debate Championship
November 10 -12, 2023
REGISTRATION IS OPEN
This event will offer a unique competitive experience where students must compete in a different event each of the three days of the competition to demonstrate the breadth of their civics knowledge and the diversity of their communications skills. The tournament will culminate in a special awards ceremony in the beautiful hotel ballroom.
All middle and high school students NATIONWIDE are invited to attend. There will be a middle school division and an open high school division.
We are pleased to offer student scholarships to offset the cost of attending. There is no limit on the number of students per school who can apply for scholarships. The deadline to apply for scholarships is midnight, September 16. Scholarship winners will be notified by September 23.
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July 21 - Registration Opens
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August 15 - Scholarship applications open
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September 15 - Scholarship applications close
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September 23 - Scholarship recipients notified
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October 5 - Legislation submission deadline
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October 11 - Hotel reservations close
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October 21 - Tournament registration closes
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October 22 - Drop fees in effect
SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE
IMPORTANT DEADLINES
2022 WINNERS
HIGH SCHOOL
OVERALL CHAMPION
Sofia Mohring - Lake Mary Preparatory School, Lake Mary
2ND PLACE
Bradan Lott - Lake Mary Preparatory School, Lake Mary
3RD PLACE
Gaby Urdaneta - Lake Nona High School, Orlando
4TH PLACE
Rudi Darden - South Lake High School, Groveland
5TH PLACE
Nicholas Ostheimer - FAU High School, Boca Raton
6TH PLACE
Jolie Lehrman - FAU High School, Boca Raton
7TH PLACE
Arik Karim - A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, West Palm Beach
8TH PLACE
Eva Barrett - Lake Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs
9TH PLACE
Abiah George - Aberdeen Independent, South Dakota
10TH PLACE
Maya Venkatraman - Lake Nona High School, Orlando
INSPIRING COACHES
Natalia Allen - I-Prep Academy North, Miami
Cathy Brown - Apopka High School, Apopka
Robin Fieler - Colonial High School, Orlando
These awards will honor three of our coaches who helped develop the skills of the students competing in The Great Debate. These three coaches were nominated by their students.
THE FREEDOM CUP
Joselyn Diaz - Apopka High School, Apopka
The freedom cup is awarded to one student who exemplifies great citizenship.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
OVERALL CHAMPION
Daniella Rothberg - I-Prep Academy North, Miami
2ND PLACE
Taylor Mack - I-Prep Academy North, Miami
3RD PLACE
Asher Licata - AD Henderson University School, Boca Raton
ADDITIONAL AWARDS
1ST PLACE, HIGH SCHOOL, IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
Alan Munschy - Christopher Columbus High School, Miami
1ST PLACE, HIGH SCHOOL, EXTEMPORANEOUS DEBATE
Eva Barrett - Kale Brantley High School, Altamonte Springs
1ST PLACE, HIGH SCHOOL, CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE
Rhea Thakker - Lake Mary Preparatory School, Lake Mary
1ST PLACE, MIDDLE SCHOOL, IMPROMPTU SPEAKING
Daniella Rothberg - I-Prep Academy North, Miami
1ST PLACE, MIDDLE SCHOOL, EXTEMPORANEOUS DEBATE
Asher Licata - AD Henderson University School, Boca Raton
1ST PLACE, MIDDLE SCHOOL, CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE
Asher Licata - AD Henderson University School, Boca Raton
OUR STORY
In November 2021, the FCDI hosted the inaugural National Civics and Debate Championship (NCDC), which showcased a “next level synthesis” of civics education and debate competition. The NCDC thoroughly challenged students’ civics knowledge, debate skills and endurance. Students participated in a three-day competition with over 150 students and 26 teams.
With exemplary performance in rigorous contests aligned with Florida’s standards, students competed in the areas of Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Debate, Impromptu Speaking and Extemporaneous Sports Analysis (a new event added to attract a new demographic of competitors).
While most conventional debate tournaments require students to compete in only one event, the NCDC “triathlon” required students to compete in different debate events on each of the three tournament days.
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