Student News & Events

WUDL Teams Shine @ Georgetown Day Invitational Eric (Class of 2024), Danielle (Class of 2019), Mary, Dami (current debaters), Coach Price, Kailey (Class of 2022), and Justin (Class of 2021), — Four generations of DuVal High School’s award winning debate team back to support the current squad – JV finalists in their first regional The

WUDL Family Grows — Adam, Elle, and Nina! Adam Mathews – Program Coordinator, National League Elle Bischoff – Program Associate, Volunteerism Nina Darden – Program Associate While there is a severe deficit in the public policy and civic discourse among adults in the Greater Washington region, the same cannot be said for it’s youth! Last

12th Annual Matthew Harris Ornstein Summer Debate Institute Wraps Up Bigger, Better Than Ever! Volunteer Lisa judges a practice debate between Karamoko (speaking) and Kai versus Max and Gerson I still slip up and say things like, after a decade, or in the last ten years….but I need to start saying twelve!  This year, we

12th Annual MHOSDI – Awards Edition The members of the 117 Society (folks who have been to at least 3 MHOSDIs) in 2026 across staff and students alike Matthew Harris Ornstein Award Winner: Symon Goldblatt, Banneker Symon told me that his first memories of debate camp is in an online lab during COVID as a

WUDL Advances Topic at NFHS Conference Daniella, Mac, and the rest of the NFHS representatives doing a deep dive into the topics proposed at the conference Daniella and Mac in the weeds during the conference Decisions are made by those who show up. At the Washington Urban Debate League, we take those words seriously, both

WUDL Debaters Return From Exclusive Summer Opportunity @ University of Kentucky Arielle (right) and Carmen (seated), with some new friends from Urban Debate Leagues around the nation Each year, WUDL is allowed to nominate a single partnership to attend an exclusive program at the University of Kentucky. This program takes students from Urban Debate Leagues

WUDL Elementary Program 2x Longer, Grows 50% Abby and Jojo, our 2nd tournament champions in the Advanced Division, from Janney Elementary debaters are always some of my favorite. They’ve got creativity and wonder at the world, and aren’t disillusioned that the fantastical is possible yet.  — WUDL Director David Trigaux  Six years in, WUDL’s elementary circuit

Banneker, DC International, and Walls win awards at the Urban Debate National Championship! Dennis, Joey, Henry, Jack, Danielle, William, Alex, James, Claudia, Eric, and Addie at Harvard After a blistering qualifier, where five teams had a chance to qualify for all the way until the last round, WUDL advanced two experienced teams to the Urban

Applegate / Schmidt and Mazumdar / Choi Reach New Heights @ Tournament of Champions Messai, Nala, Mac, Margaret, Jack, Sitara, Daniella, Kathy, David, and Gabe (WUDL ToC Contingent, 2026) Qualifying for the Tournament of Champions is hard. It is the top 1%, or even less than that of high school debaters, and it prioritizes the