JACKSON, Tenn. — April 26, 2022 — Union University’s debate team was named season-long champion for the third consecutive year and the national tournament champion of the International Public Debate Association national tournament for the second consecutive year.
Union ranked first for its season-long debate tournaments — competing against nearly 200 teams and over 1,000 individual competitors this season — and during the 2021-2022 debate championship that took place April 8-11 in Abilene, Texas.
Rebekah Whitaker, assistant professor of communication arts and director for debate, praised the hard work and resiliency of these students, who have strenuously practiced, researched and competed for hundreds of hours this season. She said while she is proud of the students’ excellence in the tournament, she is proudest of their humility and love during these competitions.
“I had competitors and coaches from other teams repeatedly seek me out to tell me how ethical and high quality our debaters are, and more importantly, that they are also kind, respectful and full of grace,” Whitaker said.
Along with encouraging other teams, Whitaker said Union debate students went above and beyond to care for each other, and she believes the UU debate team is at an all-time high of team unity and cohesion.
“They truly are a people-focused group, despite the fact that they also work on an individual level,” Whitaker said. “To see them actually fulfill their purpose as a team, that's the kingdom work that we want to be doing at the tournament… and that's what makes me proud.”
Micah McGee, sophomore business administration major and co-captain of the debate team, said one of his favorite things about the team is a shared understanding that the team’s success is their individual success. He said he is proud of all his teammates and honored to have played a small part in what they have accomplished.
The Union administration and faculty have shown constant support and encouragement to the UU debate team, and McGee said he is thankful for a university that upholds its Christ-centered values, even in an environment like debate.
“When the team travels to tournaments, we take pride in the privilege to represent Union and our values,” McGee said. “Support means more than encouragement; it took the form of powerful motivation that I believe, at least in part, fueled the team's performance and resulted in the success we received.”
In addition to the team’s season-long and national tournament championship, Union debate team’s other notable awards include: first place scholastic sweepstakes award for team IPDA and novice competitions; first place novice speaker award for Union freshman, Seth Blair; first place novice debate award for Union freshman, Cameron Champine.
To learn more about Union’s debate team, visit uu.edu/org/debate/.