Matthew Harris Ornstein Summer Debate Institute Starts Another Great Decade
Last year, we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Matthew Harris Ornstein Summer Debate Institute. We looked ahead at the next decade optimistically — with an incredible partnership with the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation, a community of engaged alumni that make up most of our instructors these days, and a great host partner at DC Bilingual School, the future looked bright. We didn’t think it would be this bright, and this big, this fast!
This year, we had 272(!) students this year, 39 more than we had last year, with more of the same great speakers, activities, and staff.
We’d like to first share many thanks to DC Bilingual for being a wonderful host. Their new wing (and the rest of the building) was beautiful and well maintained, and the administrative team of Christian and Eddie was easy to work with. The school is easily accessible to transit so students could easily attend, and had great outdoor spaces for our field day (see below)!
This year, students wrestled with an international topic with great clash — the Arctic. Development of economic, military, scientific development, indigenous rights, or environmental protections are often in conflict with each-other, allowing for great discussions of values and learning about complex issues like Climate Change, the US Role in International Relations, and much much more.
We couldn’t have done it without a star studded array of guest speakers, including:
- Svanhildur, Valsdottir, Iceland’s Ambassador to the United States (and a former debater!)
- Ali Carter, Water and Ocean Policy expert who has worked for Congress, think tanks, and alternative energy organizations
- Mary Beth Armstrong, NOAA Arctic Fellow (and former Institute instructor!)
- Kaleb Froelich, Senior Policy Advisor, Holland and Hart, former Chief of Staff, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski
What was new this year?
We’re always trying new things, testing ideas from coaches, students, staff, and alumni and looking for the best balance of activities to fit that year’s topic.
1. Much Bigger Than Usual!
(See Above)
2. Creative Argumentation
We adjusted our curriculum, not providing any sample cases and encouraging students to have more ownership over their argumentation. It made a big difference, with a wide range of creative cases coming from our advanced students, and diverse takes on our sample cases from the less experienced ones. Some teams even played with the form of their arguments, testing the boundaries of what an argument looks like and questioning how we learn and grow from debate.
Special shout outs:
To Gem Balthazar, who filled some big shoes on the administrative team of the summer institute and Elena Fialkoff from the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation and a number of parent volunteers for their irreplaceable partnership and assistance.
To Williams Connolly and The Asia Group Foundation for their incredibly generous donations of printed materials.
Join us during the season to see debate worthy of (and always more substantive than that occurring downtown) the nation’s capital!
First up, Georgetown Day’s Invitational on Sept. 26th!
Volunteers: Keep an eye out for emails about coaching and judging opportunities, school starts in a few weeks!
