Several Dallas ISD students will spend part of the Spring Break competing in the UIL Cross-Examination Debate State Meet at the University of Texas at Austin. By placing first or second in their respective UIL CX Debate District meets, 12 students from Jefferson, Law Magnet, Samuell, Skyline, and TAG high schools will travel to Austin on March 16 to compete in the UIL state competition, one of the largest debate tournaments in the United States.
With the topic of Emerging Technologies, the debate teams will argue whether the US government should increase its security cooperation with NATO in the areas of artificial intelligence, biotechnology, or cybersecurity.
Policy debate is a fast-paced competition where students are forced to think on their feet, said Michelle Read, Student Activities Coordinator and former teacher who has had debate teams compete at the state and national levels.
“Participating in the state debate meet affords students the opportunity to compete on a larger scale than local tournaments,” Read said. “The competition allows high school debaters to tap into the hierarchy of academic skills that will flow over into any career path which involves critical thinking, public speaking, or researching.”
Advancing Debate Teams:
Conference 4A District 13
Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet
– Debate Team: Ari Arceo and Valen Garcia
School for the Talented and Gifted
– Debate Team: Avery Devenport and Juan Villa
Conference 5A District 11
Thomas Jefferson High School
– Debate Team: Jesse Escamilla and Juan Valdez
– Debate Team: Diego Fraire and Ana Peralta
Conference 5A District 12
W.W. Samuell High School
– Debate Team: Eva Delgado and Sonia Esner
Conference 6A District 11
Skyline High School
– Debate Team: De’Ajia Burnett and Yiscel Venegas
