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Saturday, December 10, 2011
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KwanzaaFest Inc and Oncor Presents The Encore/Oncor Great Debate
The Dallas Urban Debate Alliance is fortunate enough once again to partner with KwanzaaFest Oncor/Encore Oncor Great Debate contest for its third consecutive year. Oncor Energy has continued its pledge of $10,000 in scholarship awards to area students who are members of high school or middle school debate teams.
This year's event will take place at the African American Museum on the State of Texas Fairgrounds. The final four pair of students will be placed into semi-final rounds and will be judged by area professionals. The winners of the two semifinal rounds will then compete in the final round at the same venue and be judged by a second set of judges
For 2011 we will use the National Debate Question:
"Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its exploration and/or development of space beyond the Earth's mesosphere."
The four teams that qualify for the semi-final event will be selected based on the submitted revised 1AC written argument. Those arguments will be reviewed by a KwanzaaFest Great Debate Committee member, Nicole Serrano and three area judges chosen by KwanzaaFest. The Teams will also be selected with a preference towards having a variety of different affirmative cases and a diverse competition pool. Seeding will also be based on the submitted 1ACs.
The top four teams will compete in a semi-final debate with the 1st vs. 4th and 2nd vs. 3rd seeds competing for the chance to participate in the finals on December 11th.
Timeline
- November 4th - Flyer sent to all schools and potential participants
- November 17th - Deadline to submit all arguments
- November 18th -28th - Judging panel will meet and declare the four winning teams
- November 30th - All semifinal participants will be notified
- December 8th - Semifinal rounds and finalists will debate beginning at approx 3pm with the finals to follow by 5p.m.. - All students, coaches and parents will be introduced at the KwanzaaFest Reception
- December 11th - Time TBD - Students, coaches and parents of the two teams of finalists will be awarded onstage along with members of KwanzaaFest, Oncor and Dallas Urban Debate Alliance.
Prizes
The winning team will receive $2000(2) per student, the second place team $1500(2), along with $500(4) scholarships for the semifinal teams that did not advance. We will also award $500(2) each to the winning schools.
The Great Debate History
2010
The Chairman and members of the KwanzaaFest/Oncor Encore Great Debate committee are proud to announce the winners of the third annual event held on December 9, 2010. Both the first and second place winners hail from Dallas Skyline High. Lauren Loper who is a 2009 champion paired with Stephanie Jiminez and each claimed the first prize scholarship of $2000 each. Kelia Neal and Jamesha Bodwell will receive $1500 each for their appearance.
Students from Conrad High and Sunset competed in the semi-final event and will receive $500 per student. Conrad's Mawuena Banini and Patricia Togbetse, both born in Ghana West Africa along with Sunset's Lorenzo Almanza and Erick Alonoso all proved to be tough competitors.
2009
The Chairman and members of the KwanzaaFest/Oncor Encore Great Debate committee are proud to announce the winners of the second annual event held on December 13, 2009. The 2009 first place winners from Skyline high are Jose Ortiz and Lauren Loper. Our second place team hails from Bryan Adams High and includes seniors Alul Yesak and Starr Miller.
2008
First-place winners were Carter freshman Terrance Jackson and sophomore Bianka Richmond. Each will receive a $2,500 college scholarship. Second-place winners were Roosevelt juniors Myesha Cook and Abel Martinez. They will receive $1,500 college scholarships. The two runners-up, Carter sophomore Jose Perez and junior LeNice Page-Franklin, will receive $250 scholarships.
Please sign your school up today. For details, please call 214-653-6671.