Recapping the 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Championship
The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) recently hosted the best of urban debate during the third annual Chase Urban Debate National Championship in New York City, April 22-25, 2010. The tournament, held at the Chase Conference Centers in Midtown Manhattan, featured the top two teams from each of 19 cities, representing some of the top urban debaters in the nation. Thanks to the generous support of Chase, 76 debaters and nearly 60 of their coaches and administrators met in New York to compete, learn from each other, and celebrate their achievements.
After six preliminary debates and four single-elimination rounds, Misael Gonzalez and Kevin Hirn from Whitney M. Young High School of the Chicago Debate League won the Final Round and were crowned the 2010 Chase Urban Debate National Champions. Kevin Hirn of Whitney M. Young High School in Chicago was also the tournament's Top Speaker. Frances Desmond and Magdalena Ramirez of Woodrow Wilson High School from the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance won the Building Leagues Breakout Division for newer Urban Debate Leagues.
Additional congratulations go to the participants in the Arthur N. Rupe Public Demonstration Debate: Goran Flajc (Houston), Misael Gonzalez (Chicago), Sarah Walker (Detroit), Christina Damon (Denver), Shagun Kukreja (Jersey), and Emily Luepker (St. Louis).
Thanks to the generous support of Jamba Juice, $10,000 in student and team scholarships were awarded to the tournament's top speakers and championship teams. Jamba Juice also partnered with the NAUDL to help support student debates focused on the discussion of health, food, and poverty.
In addition to the competition, participants learned and shared new ideas through conferencing and professional development sessions led by the top minds in high school and college debate and connected with over 300 guests at the 2010 National Association for Urban Debate Leagues Annual Dinner. The weekend was highly memorable for all in attendance and sets the stage for a wonderful year in urban debate across the country.
Results
2010 Chase Urban Debate National Champions
Misael Gonzalez and Kevin Hirn (Whitney M. Young High School, Chicago)
Finalists
Andrew Hall and Tamar Kaplan (Highland Park High School, Minnesota)
Semi-finalists
Michael Barlow and Holden Choi (Grady High School, Atlanta)
Carl Jiang and Chemine Okere (Lane Technical High School, Chicago)
Top Speakers
1. Kevin Hirn (Whitney M. Young High School, Chicago)
2. Shagun Kukreja (University High School, Jersey)
3. Michael Barlow (Grady High School, Atlanta)
4. Chemine Okere (Lane Technical High School, Chicago)
5. Carl Jiang (Lane Technical High School, Chicago)
6. Misael Gonzalez (Whitney M. Young High School, Chicago)
7. Tamar Kaplan (Highland Park School, Minnesota)
8. Amna Tariq (University High School, Jersey)
9. Holden Choi (Grady High School, Atlanta)
10. Robert Torres (North Houston High School, Houston)
First-Year Breakout Champions
Frances Desmond and Magdalena Ramirez (Woodrow Wilson High School, Dallas)
First-Year Breakout Finalists
Rashid Campbell and Tanesha Walker (EXCEL High School and Skyline High School, Bay Area)
Click here or on any of the photos above for more photos from the Championship.
