Over 400 students from across the country gathered on Nov. 10-12 in Orlando to compete in The Great Debate, hosted by the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI).
“The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative teaches students civics education, which is important to ensure future generations understand our nation’s core values,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a press release.
The competition drew participants from all 67 Florida school districts, and the attendance of 420 was three times what it was when the Florida Department of Education and Florida Education Foundation launched the FCDI in 2019.
At the top of the pack in the middle school division this year, Abraham Lincoln Middle School student Ann Moywaywa won first place in all three sections: congressional debate, extemporaneous debate and impromptu speaking, tying the awards together with the award for first place overall in the middle school division.
“Florida is leading the way in civics education, and we are proud that our national hallmark event is growing exponentially along with the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative,” Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. said in the press release. “The Great Debate provides an opportunity for Florida to reinvigorate public debate and civil discourse while simultaneously enriching students’ understanding of the democratic values of our country.”
Alachua County Public Schools also produced a few other winners in the national contest: Lincoln Middle School students Michael Huan and Mia Yu earned third place prizes in middle school extemporaneous debate impromptu speaking, respectively.
Alachua Learning Academy’s Selena Dexter earned fifth place in impromptu speaking in the middle school division. Peter Moywaywa of Eastside High School came in fifth place for the same event’s high school division.
The full list of winners is available on The Great Debate’s website.