Introduction to Chicago’s National Debate Champions
Chicago now boasts two sets of national debate champions after a pair of Chicago Public School students recently took home titles in both English- and Spanish-speaking competitions. Kenwood Academy seniors Kate’lynn Shaw and Amanti Washington and Back of the Yards College Prep students Ángel Tierrablanca and Wendy DePaz bested dozens of competitors last month to take top honors at the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues in Atlanta, with Tierrablanca and DePaz winning the Debate En Espanol competition.
The Journey to Victory
Shaw and Washington also represented Kenwood at the Tournament of Champions on the University of Kentucky campus in late April, winning three out of four rounds and competing alongside students from Whitney Young Magnet High School and Walter Payton College Prep. The journey to victory wasn’t easy for the quartet, who juggled homework with a demanding practice schedule as they prepared to return to competition this spring. Both teams clocked 10-15 hours a week researching topics and fine-tuning their arguments, with the Kenwood duo stopping by the offices of Chicago Debates twice in the days leading up to the event to practice, said Executive Director Anthony Bolden.
Chicago Debates Program
The students’ wins are a feather in the cap for Chicago Debates, a 27-year-old program that saw its budget slashed by Chicago Public Schools in the fall. Support from individuals and organizations helped fill the financial gap. Seventy schools across the city participate in the program. Back of the Yards College Prep has had a debate team for two years, and both Tierrablanca and DePaz have participated both years, Bolden said. Shaw started debating her sophomore year and Washington began competing in eighth grade, he said.
Amanti Washington (left) practices with a member of the Chicago Debates program in an undated photo. Washington is one half of the Kenwood Academy team who won a national championship in April. Credit: Provided
Personal Growth Through Debate
Washington was bitten by the debate bug in third grade when he and a classmate spent an hour in class arguing whether movies or books were better. The informal sparring excited him, he said. Shaw credits the sport with giving her the ability to understand herself, along with the confidence necessary to lead the student council as class president. But Shaw’s “aha!” moment was meeting a Black female coach — Ajza Butler — at Dartmouth College’s debate camp. Butler was the first Black woman to be awarded Top Speaker at the National Debate Tournament.
Kate’Lynn Shaw goes over her notes ahead of the national competition held in Atlanta in April. Shaw plans to teach at a debate camp this summer. Credit: Provided.
Debate En Espanol
Chicago Debates, a member of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, launched Debate En Espanol two years ago to give Spanish-speaking students the opportunity to participate. Chicago was the third group in the league to create a Spanish-language debate program, joining the Boston Debate League and the Minnesota Urban Debate League. Tierrablanca and DePaz recalled their own nervousness when starting out. It was intimidating for Tierrablanca in the beginning, but he said the excitement of the challenge overtook the fear.
Impact on Academics and Personal Life
The success of Tierrablanca and DePaz has had
