Debate changes lives. The Dallas Urban Debate Alliance is committed to providing every Dallas ISD student the opportunity to participate in rigorous academic policy debate. Every student deserves the chance to become an articulate and informed leader in his or her school and community.
The University Crossroads and Generation Texas programs offer several scholarships to students in need in the Dallas area - recently they told us about a several new partners who have signed on with scholarships to numerous colleges around Texas. The application deadline is June 3rd - if you are a graduating senior and are looking for some extra financial support, take a look here!.
The National Forensic League is offering a $500 scholarship prize for its spoken-poetry competition this summer. Any student who is a member of the NFL can participate - just submit a video of your performance by May 23rd.
Coach Michelle Read and her debate team were the subjects of a feature story this evening on Channel 8 WFAA news. Erick Alonso, a graduating senior, team leader, and qualifier for the National Association of Urban Debate Leagues tournament, was the focus of the coverage, which aired this evening at 6PM (you can watch the video and read a detailed story here).
This morning, the Lone Star District (run by Cindi Timmons) of the National Forensic League officially recruited its 400th member. The massive campaign to increase the number of participating students was made possible through the inclusion of the established base of experienced debaters who are members of the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance.
This weekend, over 60 students competed in the Dallas Urban Debate Alliance's Varsity City Championship tournament at Southern Methodist University. After 5 rounds of competition, teams from WT White, Woodrow Wilson, Law Magnet, and Sunset cleared to semifinal rounds.
This weekend, Dallas Urban Debate hosted the first Greater Dallas Tournament, which opened tournament admissions to non-DISD schools. The goal was to expose Dallas Urban Debaters to competitors from other debate organizations like the Texas Forensic Association, the National Forensic League, and programs that have qualified to the renowned Tournament of Champions.
The Dallas Urban Debate Alliance will be presenting its next Debate Center with the help of Southern Methodist University tomorrow evening. At 5:30PM in the Foyer of the Owens Art Center at SMU, DISD students interested in learning more about debate can come for free food and a chance to listen to one of two lectures - either: Beginner level: The Art of Rebuttals by Collin Roark (UTD alum, Coach at UNT and St.