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Two St. Luke’s Debaters Head to World Tournament
There’s no debate—it’s tremendous news that St. Luke’s award-winning Debate Team has two students competing in The World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championship (WIDPSC).
St. Luke's Debate Team co-captains Bilal Memon and Chloe Kekedjian, both seniors, head to South Africa this weekend for the April 9-15 tournament. There they will compete with debaters from around the globe.
Qualification for the competitive Worlds tournament is based on placement in the numerous Debating Association of New England Independent Schools (DANEIS) tournaments throughout the year. During four years on St. Luke’s Debate Team, Chloe and Bilal and have consistently won or placed as top debaters. Their most recent accomplishment was qualifying for the CT State Finals for the second year in a row.
Chloe and Bilal have not only been exceptional debaters but have gone above & beyond as leaders and mentors to younger debaters. St. Luke’s Debate Coach Beth Yavenditti said, “They both have worked hard to hone their craft while also making sure that the team as a whole is prepared for each competition. They have even spent time helping the Middle School Debate Team with practices as well as judging.” Teaching Fellow Marina Perkins also served as a Debate Coach this year along with Yavenditti.
At the Worlds tournament, participants must compete in four different events: Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive or After Dinner Speaking and Interpretive Reading. According to the WIDPSC website, the championship “targets tomorrow's leaders— students in a global market who must learn to interact and collaborate with peers from diverse schools, cultural backgrounds, and countries.”
In 2015, St. Luke’s Eliza Posner ‘16 competed in the Worlds debate tournament held in Hong Kong.
Congratulations and bon voyage to Chloe and Bilal as they head to the other side of the world to represent St. Luke’s.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
