Bellaire High School Wins National Debate Tournament, Takes Home $10,000 in Scholarship Money

Team awarded the “Bickel & Brewer Cup” in New York Competition

 

New York, NY… April 27, 2008 – The fourth time was the charm for the Bellaire High School debate team. After competing in the Bickel & Brewer / New York University National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) finals for four consecutive years, the team won first place in this national debate competition. The students were awarded $10,000 in scholarship money and the “Bickel & Brewer Cup” at a special ceremony Saturday evening on the New York University campus.

 

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. This year’s competition began in October when students from more than 100 high schools (representing 26 states) submitted case studies on the 2007-2008 topic, “Resolved:  The United States federal government should substantially increase its AIDS/HIV public health assistance to Sub-Saharan Africa.” From the original pool of approximately 100 debate teams, sixteen advanced to a single-elimination written debate tournament. These teams volleyed debates back and forth via e-mail, with judges narrowing the field to eight teams and then four over the course of six months. The final four teams met this weekend at NYU to compete in an oral advocacy competition.

 

“The Bellaire High School debate team has a lot to celebrate,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Bickel & Brewer and founder of the NPPF. “The school proved itself on the national stage, and distinguished itself as one of the premier teams in this national competition.”

 

The finals competition is always a unique test of research and oral advocacy skills. On Saturday afternoon, students presented their positions before a panel of judges that included some of the world’s foremost experts in law, business and debate. In addition to Brewer, finals judges included NYU President John Sexton; New York Times writer and author James Traub; National Association of Urban Debate Leagues Chairman Lenny Gail; National Association of Urban Debate Leagues Executive Director Scott Deatherage; Melissa Maxcy Wade, director of forensics, Emory University; National Forensic League Secretary Scott Wunn; and Sheldon Prentice, senior vice president and general counsel; Merchants Bancshares, Inc.

 

The debates were even broadcast live via the Internet – and viewed by debaters across the country. The video of the finals competition will soon be available for viewing at www.nppf.net.

 

The Bellaire High School team defeated Kahuku High & Intermediate School, Kahuku, Hawaii, in the semi-finals and in the final round, the Bellaire team defeated Colleyville Heritage High School, Colleyville, Texas, to take home the grand prize.

 

The NPPF was founded by the Bickel & Brewer Foundation in 2001, and is jointly administered with New York University. The program is available to all high schools nationwide – public and private – free of charge. Since the NPPF’s inception, the Bickel & Brewer Foundation 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. Visit www.nppf.net for more information.

 

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.

 

For More Information, contact Travis Carter, on behalf of Bickel & Brewer Foundation

Phone : 214-415-3729