2008-04-22

Eddie Amador wins $10,000 Scholarship

Eddie Amador wins $10,000 Scholarship

Philadelphia, PA - The 2nd Annual Voices of Philadelphia Debate Tournament was held this past weekend on Saturday, April 19, 2008, at Drexel University’s Main Building. More than 100 students, coaches, volunteers, judges, and observers gathered to celebrate student achievement. Students from Perspectives’ 10 afterschool programs in the City of Philadelphia participated. The tournament represented the culmination of year-long debating programs.

The students debated the Lincoln-Douglas debate topic, “It is just for the United States to use military force to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons by nations that pose a military threat.” After three rounds of preliminary competition, the Top 8 varsity students and Top 4 novice students advanced in the competition. In the final round of the novice tournament, Xavier Brown of Paul Robeson High School for Human Services defeated Brittany Davis of Constitution High School, for which Xavier Brown will earn a $2,500 scholarship to Drexel University. At the same time, a demonstration debate was held between Alex Bores (Hunter College, NY) and Ellen Noble (Walt Whitman, MD) for observers to see national-level competition.

During the Final Round of the varsity tournament, Eddie Amador of Franklin Towne Charter School and Parkway Center City High School’s Ryan Rudolph debated an exciting round. On a close 4-3 decision, Eddie Amador was declared the Champion of the 2nd Annual Voices of Philadelphia Debate Tournament. Eddie Amador earned a $10,000 scholarship to Drexel University while Ryan Rudolph was presented with a $7,500 scholarships. The two varsity semi-finalists, Jalon Alexander of Bodine High School and Yong Lin Lee of Franklin Towne Charter School, each earned $5,000 scholarships to Drexel University.

Following the Final Round, Perspectives held an awards ceremony to recognize all those who have participated in Perspectives’ programs. All students received medals of honor for their participation, while every coach received a plaque and a gift certificate for a restaurant of their choice.

AFTERSCHOOL AWARDS

Outstanding Senior Awards
Eddie Amador, Franklin Towne Charter School (PA)
Yong Lin Lee, Franklin Towne Charter School (PA)

Rising Star Coaching Awards
Maria Fitzgerald, Bodine High School (PA)
Bart Poindexter, Paul Robeson High School (PA)
Paul Perry, Shaw Middle School (PA)
Traveling Trophy Awards

School of the Year: Franklin Towne Charter School (PA)
Coach of the Year: Lauren Geschel, Franklin Towne Charter School (PA)
Student of the Year: Subee Jacob, Parkway Center City High School (PA)
Principal of the Year: Dr. Tom Davidson, Constitution High School (PA)

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VARSITY RESULTS

Champion (1st Place) and Recipient of $10,000 Drexel University Scholarship
Eddie Amador - Franklin Towne High School (PA)

Runner-Up (2nd Place) and Recipient of $7,500 Drexel University Scholarship
Ryan Rudolph - Parkway Center City High School (PA)

Semi-Finalists (Top 4) and Recipient of $5,000 Drexel University Scholarship
Yong Lin Lee - Franklin Towne High School (PA)
Jalon Alexander - Bodine High School (PA)

Quarter-Finalists (Top 8 )
Subee Jacob - Parkway Center City High School (PA)
Rubin Rhodes - Parkway Center City High School (PA)
Janeisa Davis - Mathematics, Civics, and Sciences Charter School (PA)
Melanie Young - Bodine High School (PA)

Speaker Awards

  1. Yong Lin Lee - Franklin Towne High School (PA)
  2. Rubin Rhodes - Parkway Center City High School (PA)
  3. Eddie Amador - Franklin Towne High School (PA)
  4. Subee Jacob - Parkway Center City High School (PA)
  5. Ryan Rudolph - Parkway Center City High School (PA)

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NOVICE RESULTS

Champion (1st Place) and Recipient of $2,500 Drexel University Scholarship
Xavier Brown - Paul Robeson High School for Human Services (PA)

Runner-Up (2nd Place)
Brittany Davis - Constitution High School (PA)

Semi-Finalists (Top 4)
Nikki Branhut - Constitution High School (PA)
Ashley Hannah - Franklin Towne High School (PA)

Speaker Awards

  1. Xavier Brown - Paul Robeson High School for Human Services (PA)
  2. Ashley Hanna - Franklin Towne High School (PA)
  3. Brittany Davis - Constitution High School (PA)

 

ABOUT PERSPECTIVES DEBATE INC.

Perspectives is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2005 by college students now at Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania, who are former debaters themselves. Perspectives was founded with an angel grant from H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest and have since been supported by the Samuel S. Fels Fund, Phoebe Haas Charitable Trust “A”, as recommended by Carole Haas Gravagno, and the Philadelphia Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. Since its founding, Perspectives has educated students from 40 schools in 8 states, with a focus on the Philadelphia region. Perspectives seeks to provide opportunities for students to participate in debate through its afterschool, tournament, and summer enrichment programs, with an emphasis on underserved students in Philadelphia schools. See www.philadebate.org for more details.

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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

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Matthew Scarola
Managing Director, Perspectives Debate Inc.
press@perspectivesdebate.org