2007-07-09
4 students earn $20,000 in scholarships to Drexel University!
On Saturday, April 21, 2007, students from 7 Philadelphia area schools competed at the First Annual Voices of Philadelphia Debate Tournament. The tournament, sponsored by Drexel University, is the first tournament of its kind in Philadelphia. 4 Perspectives students each received a $5000 scholarship to Drexel.
Please visit the Voices of Philadelphia Tournament page for more information.
Special thanks to Drexel University Assistant Dean Shannon Gary who presented awards to all students at the tournament, and Ms. Sherri Reich and the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Delaware Valley for sponsoring additional prizes to students.
Top 2 Students
- Alex Koren, Voices of Philadelphia Tournament Champion, and recipient of $150 cash award
- Andrew Pitts, Voices of Philadelphia Tournament Runner-Up, and recipient of $75 cash award
Top 4 Students
Winners of $5,000 Drexel Scholarship
- Alex Koren
- Andrew Pitt
- Jake Gardner-Rose
- Buckminster Kellorg
Philadelphia Scholar Award: Shanise Williams of Parkway Northwest, who also went undefeated at the tournament. Shanise received a full scholarship to attend the Philadelphia Debate Institute.
Perfect "30" Award: William Drayton (West Catholic HS) and Matt Angiolillo (St. Joseph’s Preparatory) were the only two debaters at the tournament to earn a perfect "30" speaker points in competition.
Other Top Finishers
- Shanise Williams, Parkway Northwest HS
- Malik Neal, West Catholic HS
- Vania Liang, Franklin Towne Charter School
- Lydia Reyle, PA Leadership Academy
Top Speakers
In the competition, there were two ties for 2nd Place and 5th Place speakers
- 1. Andrew Pitts (PA Leadership Academy)
- 2. Malik Neal (West Catholic HS) [tie]
- 2. William Drayton (West Catholic HS) [tie]
- 4. Jake Gardner-Rosen (Friends Select School)
- 5. Victoria Blasejewski (Franklin Towne Charter School) [tie]
- 5. Lydia Reyle (PA Leadership Academy) [tie]
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Perspectives is a Philadelphia-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization promoting youth debate education. Students who debate dramatically increase their reading comprehension, critical thinking, and public speaking skills. In the process, debate becomes a forum to foster youth achievement and civic responsibility. Perspectives has worked with over 400 students in 8 states through afterschool, summer, and special events. www.philadebate.org