DKC Awards Night Celebration 2016

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DEBATE-Kansas City’s annual Awards Night Celebration sponsored by UMKC Communication Studies featured a loaded program that began with an award for Kansas Superintendent of the Year Dr. Cynthia Lane and concluded with a keynote speech from Kansas City, Mo. Mayor Sly James at the Kauffman Conference Center on May 4th, 2016. DKC also presented more than 100 trophies to deserving debaters and provided awards for coaches and volunteers.

The the night began with the first-ever Administrator of the Year, which was presented to Dr. Cynthia Lane of Kansas City Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) and Alan King, the Director of Curriculum at KCKPS. The two have worked together to make sure every KCKPS has access to debate.

“I was a little surprised to get an award for something I think all administrators should do,” said Dr. Lane in her remarks accepting the award. But in a world of budget cuts, many debate programs have faced the chopping block. Without strong administrative support debate teams lack the most fundamental need, a budget, which makes the leadership of Dr. Lane and Mr. King all the more important.

DKC’s next award was the Aaron Thomas Volunteer of Year. This year DKC recognized Jennifer Underwood, who has been working with DKC since its 1998 inception as an Administrative Assistant for UMKC Communication Studies. Over nearly two decades Jennifer has gone far beyond her official duties to help DKC. She has provided essential expertise in navigating bureaucracy to start DKC programs, hire and pay staff and to provide debate scholarships. She attends DKC events and is incredibly supportive of both DKC staff members.

“Jennifer has provided DKC staff guidance, support, and help time and time again,” said DKC Program Director Isaac Allen. “I know that if I need help, Jen will be there.”

Gabe Cook, Jennifer Underwood and Isaac Allen

DKC also recognized the amazing work of its debate coaches. First, was the newest member DKC Coaches of Hall of Fame, Bill Lindsey of Lee A. Tolbert Community Academy (LATCA). Mr. Lindsey has been coaching debate at LATCA since 2007 and over that time more than 500 debaters have gone through his program. Bill Lindsey also did something no other DKC middle school has ever done – he took debaters to the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) Junior Nationals multiple times. The NSDA Junior Nationals is unique in that anyone can compete if they can afford the travel and entry fees. Mr. Lindsey has led the effort for LATCA to raise the $10,000 needed each year to send about a dozen debaters and parents to the junior national tournament. Over that time he coached two finalists and provided many students an amazing national tournament experience they will never forget.

“Bill Lindsey simply makes debate happen to give his students opportunities,” said Gabe Cook, DKC’s Executive Director. “And because of that he’s our newest member to the DKC Coaches Hall of Fame.”

Next came regular season coaching awards, which were as follows:

Anna Weston, Southwest, Newcomer of the Year
Young Lester, Argentine, Newcomer of the Year
William Billy Brame, Arrowhead, Leadership in Coaching
Sohail Jouya, UA, Most Resilient
Stefan Jones, Coronado, host with the Most
Jason Zimmerman, Kauffman, Host with the Most
Russell Buchanan, Patton, On the Road Again
Holy Ford, Smith Hale, Most Resourceful
Leayn Losh, Rosedale, Most Community-Minded Coach
Monica Young and Nicole Pizzato, School Spirit Award for Northwest

DKC’s best and brightest middle school congressional debaters performed a mini debate over whether or not we should ban football in US public schools. Kyra Duwe of Arrowhead Middle School supported a ban on football while Sabrina Whalen of Turner opposed. Asking questions after each speech were the following: Amari Lewis, Sumner Academy, De’na Newborn, Lee A. Tolbert and Leona Whalen, Rosedale.

After the performance DKC presented more than 100 awards to students who had earned them through year-long success. DKC tallies each students score at each DKC tournament all year long and routinely posts the results in a league-wide Power Ranking. The final winners on the Power Rankings were invited to Awards Night.

The last award went to a very special duo, Ellen Baker and Monica Medeiros of Lincoln Prep. Each year DKC provides the Mevlin B. Tolson Senior Award to one deserving student. But this year DKC could not break the tie between two young women that had been debating together since their first day of high school. Last year they placed third at Urban Debate Nationals, advanced to elimination debate at Catholic NFL Nationals and qualified to the NSDA Nationals. In doing so, they were one of the only teams to ever compete at three high school national tournaments in the same year. And they were the first all-female duo to advance to nationals from their district in over 30 years, and just the second team from their school to qualify.

Both Ellen and Monica were given time to speak and they delivered a heartfelt thanks to DKC, their coaches and supporters. Their sincere gratitude for opportunities provided through debate was moving, and more than a few tears were shed.

Sohail Jouya, Gabe Cook, Monica Medeiors, Ellen Baker and Isaac Allen

The action packed nigh was capped with a speech from Kansas City, Missouri Sly James. Mayor James spoke about the importance of education and listening to your mentors and parents. The Mayor also noted how the skills of debate, like research and public speaking, very much align with the skills needed to be a Mayor, or an attorney, his previous field.

“I was never a debater, but I wish I had been,” said Mayor James. Then he noted his parents surely thought he was a debater, regardless of whether he was on a team. He went on to applaud the students of DKC for their hard work and dedication to academic competition and encouraged them to continue. After the program ended, Mayor James stayed around for photographs and spent time with debaters and their families, offering encouraging thoughts. It was clear that the Mayor’s presence and engagement meant a great deal to the DKC community at Awards Night. The full list of award winners is below.