Amity Regional High School Advances to “Sweet 16” Round of IPPF Global Debate Competition
Hundreds of debate teams from around the world entered the 2022-23 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) competition, but only 16 remain – including a team of students from Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut. By advancing into the “Sweet 16” round, the students remain eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize. The Amity Regional team is the only team from Connecticut to advance this round.
Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students from around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. “The teams advancing demonstrate excellence at research, writing, and advocacy,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and a founder of the IPPF. “The 16 teams remaining will compete in a final round of written debates – in hopes of moving on to oral debates during the IPPF Finals in New York City.”
The IPPF’s 22nd annual competition began in October 2022, as 220 teams, representing schools in 22 countries and 31 U.S. states, submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic, “Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an effective model for international cooperation.” Those essays were reviewed by a committee, which determined the top 64 teams based on the overall quality of each 2,800-word essay.
In November, the top 64 teams began a single-elimination, written debate competition. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email for the next six weeks. A panel of judges reviewed the essays and selected the winning teams. In the “Round of 64,” Amity Regional High School advanced over Stuyvesant High School from New York, New York. In the “Top 32” round, Amity Regional High School advanced over The Davidson Academy from Reno, Nevada.
The “Sweet 16” round is now underway. Amity Regional High School is competing against UWC South East Asia from Singapore. The top 16 teams represent schools from 11 U.S. states, Singapore and Canada.
On March 30, the “Elite 8” teams will be announced. If Amity Regional High School advances, the team will win a trip to New York City to compete in the IPPF Finals on May 6, 2023, at the Harold Pratt House. The IPPF Finals give students the opportunity to supplement their written scholarships with oral advocacy – competing in debates in front of some of the world’s foremost experts in business, law, and politics. Judges will include Brewer and New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, among others. The winning team will take home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize.
The IPPF was founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and is now jointly administered with New York University. The program is available to all high schools around the world – public and private – for free. The IPPF is endorsed by leading forensic agencies, such as the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, the International Debate Education Association, the Impact Coalition, Associated Leaders of Urban Debate Leagues, and the National Debate Coaches Association.
The Brewer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. With offices in New York and Dallas, the Foundation has achieved widespread recognition for its efforts to create, fund and manage a variety of educational outreach programs.
Visit the IPPF at www.ippfdebate.com, www.facebook.com/ippfdebate, on Twitter at @IPPF1, and on Instagram at @ippfdebate.
