All news
Lake Advances in Debate Tournament
11/28/2007
Clear Creek Independent School District
Office of Public Information
2425 East Main Street
League City, Texas 77573
Contact: Janice Scott, Public Information Assistant Director
(281) 284-0030 or jwscott@ccisd.net
Debate Competition Sponsored by the Bickel & Brewer Foundation and New York University
November 26, 2007 – Students at Clear Lake High School have advanced to the “Sweet 16” single-elimination round of a national debate tournament. By advancing in the 2007-2008 Bickel & Brewer / NYU National Public Policy Forum (NPPF), the students remain eligible for a $10,000 first-place prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the finals competition in New York City.
The NPPF is the only national contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. The school advanced to the elimination round after writing one of the best national essays on the topic, “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its AIDS/HIV public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.” More than 100 high schools, representing 26 states, registered for the national competition. The NPPF annually involves more than 500 high school students.
As one of the top 16 schools, Clear Lake High School will now compete in a written debate, volleying papers back and forth against Henry Clay High School in Lexington, Kentucky. One school will argue in the affirmative and one will argue in the negative on the debate topic. A panel of judges will review four papers in the order they are presented and vote for the winning school. The winner will advance to the next round to face another school. This format continues for several rounds until there are four teams remaining.
“Over the years, the NPPF has become among the most hotly contested and rewarding debate competitions in the country,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at the law firm Bickel & Brewer and founder of the NPPF. “We salute all of the students who have advanced beyond the qualifying round. It is exciting to see them elevate their level of ability and written scholarship.”
The top four schools will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the April 25-27, 2008, finals at New York University. After completing written and oral arguments, finalists are honored during a special banquet and awards ceremony. The Bickel & Brewer Foundation awards the winning team a $10,000 grand prize, presented in the form of individual cash awards for scholarships.
The NPPF was founded by the Bickel & Brewer Foundation in 2001, and is now jointly administered with New York University. The program is available to all high schools nationwide – public and private – for free. Since its inception, the NPPF has awarded more than $400,000 in support of forensic activities at the secondary school and collegiate levels. The NPPF is endorsed by leading forensic agencies such as the National Forensic League and National Associate of Urban Debate Leagues.
The Bickel & Brewer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Bickel & Brewer. With offices in Dallas and New York, the Foundation has achieved widespread recognition for its efforts to create, fund and manage a variety of educational outreach programs. Visit the Bickel & Brewer Foundation at www.bickelbrewer.com.
mwiland
