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 around the country and gives them an accelerated crash course in advanced debate, plus introduces them to college style life for a week on campus with students from around the country. 

WUDL sees this opportunity as a way to accelerate a partnership we see as rising stars, folks whose passion for debate is clear and with a bit more coaching and opportunity, will break out and have not only competitive success but maximize the academic and social benefits from their participation. 

Two years ago, we nominated Tosin and Ajibola Ajani (now at MIT) from Roosevelt High School. Last year, it was Ayisha Rodriguez-Akande and Claire Mshana from Academy of Health Sciences (now seniors writing some really cool cases in my lab this summer). 

This year, we chose rising juniors Carmen Garner and Arielle Jean from Charles Flowers High School. And it seems safe to say that they had a blast: 

“Kentucky was absolutely amazing. Arielle and I made so many good friends and learned a LOT. By a lot I mean A LOT. We learned about how to debate on every single speech so intricately in terms of both case and off case/K debate. We were fed like kings and queens, dorms were amazing, campus was beautiful and everyone was just so resourceful even the other students.”

“The experience was 100/10 and I loved it. Not only did I learn a lot but I met so many great debaters and learned a lot from them as well. I learned a lot about debating K’s and now I will 100 debate them this season and make my own. Especially the Cap K, I am rlly excited to debate that. I also learned how to not rely on cards during rebuttals and how to prepare analytics!”

Thank you to the University of Kentucky staff for another great summer and for taking such good care of our kiddos!