Newsweek Mightier supports the next generation of American leaders as they try to find common ground in our fractious, sometimes toxic, national conversation. Mightier will promote high school debate and the debaters, schools, coaches and mentors who are working to keep our Civil Discourse civil for the future.
Do you know a NAUDL-affiliated student or educator who deserves recognition? Nominate them for a spotlight feature on Mightier, and we’ll tell their story.
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Marianny Torres-Collado, who will be a junior in high school this fall, is a student debater with the Denver Urban Debate League. Learn about the positive impact that debate has had on her life with this video profile.
Coming Soon: Meet the next generation of great critical thinkers, one high school debate at a time.
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National Speech and Debate Association Executive Director J. Scott Wunn says that 'debate has always been the key for us creating a better society.'
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One student said Messai Yigletu has helped her learn to walk the 'fragile line' of balancing self-awareness, humility and confidence.
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Rachel Bruce told Newsweek that at one point, she recognized she 'was being the exclusionary person,' and that she had to 'make a big change.'
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The Westchester Academy for International Studies debate team formed five years ago and has only qualified for nationals three times.
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"It can get scary sometimes," one high school student told Newsweek recently, "but we have proved that we can still stand our ground."
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The coach at Potomac Oak, a Maryland learning academy, says success depends on mentorship and sharing "institutional knowledge."
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"It can get scary sometimes," one high school student told Newsweek recently, "but we have proved that we can still stand our ground."
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The coach at Potomac Oak, a Maryland learning academy, says success depends on mentorship and sharing "institutional knowledge."
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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."
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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."
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Isabella Long told Newsweek that many young people are more informed than adults about key issues and should be taken seriously.
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Noemie Durand admits she has had "some stage fright and, I'm not gonna lie, I still have it, but debate has helped me get over that fear to a certain extent."
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Ruby Trejo Ontiveros says debate can benefit students in the future by helping them "express what they think without a fight."
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Sanika Agarwalla said debate not only taught her how to speak but also "how to listen and how to be open to altering my perspectives."
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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."
More
Isabella Long told Newsweek that many young people are more informed than adults about key issues and should be taken seriously.
More
Noemie Durand admits she has had "some stage fright and, I'm not gonna lie, I still have it, but debate has helped me get over that fear to a certain extent."
More
Ruby Trejo Ontiveros says debate can benefit students in the future by helping them "express what they think without a fight."
More
Sanika Agarwalla said debate not only taught her how to speak but also "how to listen and how to be open to altering my perspectives."
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The Chicago Debates program director said Debate en Español shows students that they should be involved in civic discourse in their native language.
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The New York Parliamentary Debate League executive director said having a student-run board makes it "uniquely equipped to give students what they want."
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The Maryland team was named the 22nd International Public Policy Forum world champion, receiving a $10,000 grand prize.
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The 2023 International Public Policy Forum Finals, featuring teams from the U.S., Canada and Singapore, kick off this weekend in New York City.
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Eight students from across the country recently traveled to Newsweek's New York City headquarters to debate immigration, AI, affirmative action and more.
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With a live, in-office debate, eight high school students with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues proved that respectful discourse is possible.
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The New York Parliamentary Debate League executive director said having a student-run board makes it "uniquely equipped to give students what they want."
More
The Maryland team was named the 22nd International Public Policy Forum world champion, receiving a $10,000 grand prize.
More
The 2023 International Public Policy Forum Finals, featuring teams from the U.S., Canada and Singapore, kick off this weekend in New York City.
More
Eight students from across the country recently traveled to Newsweek's New York City headquarters to debate immigration, AI, affirmative action and more.
More
With a live, in-office debate, eight high school students with the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues proved that respectful discourse is possible.
More
