This past weekend, the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) hosted 420 middle and high school students from 72 schools nationwide for The Great Debate: Florida’s National Civics and Debate Championship (NCDC) in Orlando. Participants hailed from various states including Texas, Oklahoma, Nevada, and Florida.
Held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and Lake Buena Vista High School, the event has grown significantly since its inaugural edition in 2021. Manny Diaz Jr., Commissioner of Education, highlighted Florida's commitment to civics education: “Florida is at the forefront of civics education, and we are committed to continuing to provide opportunities for students to learn about the founding principles of our great Republic.”
Rebecca Matthews, Board Chair of the Florida Education Foundation and University of West Florida Board Member, stated: “The Great Debate continues to evolve into a transformative event for students to access the highest quality educational opportunities – a cornerstone of the Florida Education Foundation’s mission.”
Students competed in Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Debate, and Legislative Debate categories. The competition crowned eight winners across middle school and high school divisions. In addition to these awards, two special recognitions were given: the Freedom Cup Award for exemplary citizenship and Inspiring Coach Awards for exceptional guidance in speech and debate.
The FCDI was established in January 2019 by the Florida Department of Education alongside the Florida Education Foundation with a focus on enhancing civics education through debate. This initiative aims to have debate teams present in every school district across Florida.
For more information on winners or details about NCDC, visit www.TheGreatDebateFL.com.