The Atlanta Urban Debate League is committed to providing excellent debate education programs, services, and opportunities to diverse students, educators, and members of the community!
Debate Ambassadors
Any AUDL member schools that also compete outside of the AUDL are designated as Debate Ambassador schools. Debate Ambassador schools compete in other speech and debate events, as well as in policy debate on the national circuit.
Resources
Coaches and students are encouraged to take advantage of the Digital Debate Center to receive supplementary support from AUDL staff, student interns, and Barkley Forum debaters.
There is a shared Dropbox for use by all AUDL high schools.
Debate Ambassador schools are encouraged to reach out to AUDL professional staff about covering tournament fees.
Photos from the 2019-2020 debate season
Debate Ambassador Alumni Feature: Joyce Korir
In reflecting on the Debate Ambassador program, Erik Mathis, the former AUDL Betty Maddox Fellow and Debate Ambassador Program Coordinator, recalls Emory and AUDL student intern alum Joyce Korir. “Joyce’s first debate round with the Debate Ambassador program was at Wake Forest University. Ultimately, she lost her first round to future Emory debater, and eventual TOC Champion, Ryan James. She went 0-6 at that tournament. I was worried. I pulled her aside because I thought I would have to encourage her to continue debating but it wasn’t needed. She was so happy. She talked about how friendly and helpful everyone was and how much she learned. And she kept at it. She went on to the Dartmouth Debate Institute and made it to out-rounds of their tournament.”
When not debating at Cross Keys Middle School, Joyce continued to support and promote debate at her alma matter, Sequoyah Middle School; work she has continued as an AUDL student intern through site visits. Recently, in an article for the AUDL Newsletter, Joyce stated: “There is a really strong support from Cross Keys High School students for Sequoyah because we realized how hard it was to debate against larger schools who sometimes have more resources. And also within the community, all of the students from Sequoyah and Cross Keys have a significant commitment to giving back to upcoming generations in the surrounding community.” Joyce is emblematic of the AUDL’s goal of supporting community within the competitive activity of debate. A sentiment shared by Erik when he stated, “I would love to be able to support a million Joyces.”