Nearly 600 students from 15 states participated in the 5th Annual Great Debate: Florida’s National Civics and Debate Championship, held in Orlando over the weekend. The event, which began five years ago, has seen participation increase almost fourfold since its inception.
“Florida continues to lead the nation in civics education, and the growth of The Great Debate proves that Florida’s approach to civics and debate is a model for other states to follow,” said Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. “We are proud to host a national event that brings students together for a weekend of rigorous competition and thoughtful discourse.”
The championship included three main events: Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Debate, and Legislative Debate. Competitions were held for both middle school and high school divisions. Daniel Llobet from School for Advanced Studies Wolfson was named High School Champion, while Avinoor Jutla from Lincoln Middle School won the Middle School Champion title.
Special recognition was also given during the closing ceremony. Three coaches received the “Inspiring Coach Award” for their mentorship and excellence in speech and debate. A student was honored with “The Freedom Cup” for exemplifying citizenship.
Venues for this year’s championship included Caribe Royale, Lake Buena Vista High School, and Southwest Middle School in Orlando. Established in January 2021, The Great Debate aims to combine civics education with competitive debate by challenging students’ civic knowledge and debate skills through multiple events over two days. Additional information about winners can be found at www.TheGreatDebateFL.com.
