From http://teachingwithcontests.com/?p=335
High school students to compete for $250,000 in scholarships
Now Debate This, America’s only national educational debate and $250,000 scholarship contest for high school students, launched its 2009 program today in partnership with the National Forensic League Speech and Debate Honor Society. The 2009 topic and focus of the second year is: “How can America achieve energy independence through the lessons of history?” “Now Debate This is an immersion study and scholarship competition that challenges young people to learn about contemporary issues through the lens of history and to use the invaluable skills of debate to present solutions,” said Mary L. Hagy, President of Pinnacle Performance Group, the Philadelphia-based heritage education company that created and produces Now Debate This.
“In 2009, Now Debate This will challenge rising high school seniors to explore American energy independence. Based on the discoveries of such seminal historical figures as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Edison, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford and Albert Einstein, students will understand the complexity of American energy–from science to economics to foreign policy to the moral and ethical dilemmas presented by each–and to use the skill of debate to develop arguments, present their best solutions, and potentially earn a grand prize scholarship of $150,000.” Now Debate This will issue a call for video entries to be posted to YouTube.com, by February 28, 2009. The 16 semi-finalists are scheduled to be announced in May. The summer program of exploring energy sources in both students’ home communities and across the United States will begin in late June, ending with the debate tournament in August. In the final debate between two finalists, the winner will earn a $150,000 grand prize.
The National Forensic League is excited to partner once again with Now Debate This, to create and deliver a top-quality, highly-experiential learning opportunity that crosses disciplines,” said J. Scott Wunn, Executive Director of the National Forensic League Speech and Debate Honor Society (NFL). NFL was formed in 1925, dedicated to empowering all students to become effective communicators, ethical individuals, critical thinkers, and leaders in a democratic society. “The NFL is especially pleased to work with Now Debate This to broaden opportunities for students in all schools. Debate is an excellent teaching tool to engage students in civic conversations and the creative study of the humanities and sciences. We are prioritizing opportunities for schools that do not currently have debate classes or teams to incorporate debate training into their programming.”
Today’s announcement coincides with the opening day of the 88th Conference of The National Council for the Social Studies in Houston. The National Forensic League and Now Debate This will provide debate-based, energy-related curriculum for high school teachers to incorporate into the classroom and lesson plans, encouraging all students to engage in the competition. As in 2008, the first year of Now Debate This in which high school juniors debated who was the better President, Abraham Lincoln or George Washington, in 2009 students from across the nation will create video essay submissions addressing energy independence and upload them on YouTube, for evaluation by judges from across the country. The applicant pool will be narrowed down to 16 semi-finalists, who will be awarded an honorarium that will enable them to dedicate the summer of 2009 to the study program. They will be given laptop computers, video cameras and wireless internet access. Guided by scholars, educators and debate coaches during the study program, the students will create and upload videos, blog online and engage broad public audiences locally, nationally and internationally in the discussion of the history and the current state of energy in America, with the goal of developing future solutions. The program will culminate in final debates, in which the semi-finalists will compete for $250,000 in scholarships. With cameras and laptops awarded by Now Debate This, 2008’s 16 semi-finalists documented their immersion study and summer travels of historic sites relevant to Presidents Washington and Lincoln, posting their videos and blogs online at www.nowdebatethis.com and its social network, Confab http://confab.nowdebatethis.com/. Malik Neal of Philadelphia and Philip Hayes of Lindale, Texas were the two 2008 finalists, with Hayes winning the $150,000 grand prize. Visit www.nowdebatethis.com to see the final debate and to learn more about the 2008 program and participants. Now Debate This is made possible through the generous support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Forensic League, National History Day, the National Park Service and institutional partners. In 2008 the topic of Presidents Washington and Lincoln, and executive leadership, was sponsored by Dr. John M. Templeton, Jr. and Dr. Josephine Templeton, and supported by partners such as the National Constitution Center, Mount Vernon, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, Valley Forge National Historical Park, Gettysburg National Historical Park, Lincoln Cottage, Independence National Historical Park and the Abraham Lincoln Foundation.
Reported by: David Sellers Sharon, CT
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