Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the winner of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate at the upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship will receive a $50,000 scholarship and a trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk. The runner-up will be awarded a $25,000 scholarship, while two semifinalists will each receive $15,000 scholarships, and four quarterfinalists will each receive $10,000.
“We have worked hard by to make Florida the national model for civics education,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative reflects our commitment to fostering students’ appreciation for America’s founding principles. The champion of the next FCDI state championship will take home the Charlie Kirk prize, renamed in honor of a young man who embodied the principles of patriotism, civil discourse, and open debate. The generous scholarship awards for the winner and other top competitors will be a great memorial to Kirk’s legacy”
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas commented on Florida’s approach: “Florida is modeling for the nation the impact of comprehensive civics education. With the addition of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate into FCDI, students have even more opportunities to showcase their civics knowledge while engaging in respectful discourse. Through FCDI and the Civics Literacy Excellence Initiatives, we are ensuring the next generation understands our founding principles and is equipped to preserve them through active civic participation.”
The scholarships are funded by philanthropist Patricia Duggan from Clearwater with a ten-year pledge. These funds are matched by the Florida Prepaid Foundation. Additionally, both winner and runner-up will be invited by the Ronald Reagan Foundation to attend the National Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate in California.
The FCDI State Championship is scheduled for April 5, 2026 at New College of Florida in Sarasota. According to officials, thousands of students statewide participate in FCDI activities aimed at improving civil discourse skills and understanding constitutional values. Every school district in Florida now has an FCDI team—an expansion from just 59 teams across 11 districts in 2020 to over 330 teams today—including more than 125 new teams established under Governor DeSantis’ leadership.
This year alone, students are expected to compete in over 30 tournaments as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen civic education throughout Florida.
