It is DEBATE-Kansas City’s pleasure to announce the first ever Melvin B. Tolson Gold Medal of Distinction. It is to be given out at DKC’s Annual Awards Night in future years. Like the Melvin B. Tolson Senior award, this award honors the legacy of a great, Lincoln High School alumnus, poet, organizer, diplomat and great debater Melvin B. Tolson. This award will be given annually to one outstanding individual who has demonstrated excellence in debate and service to DKC.
The winner will receive an award to keep, have their name engraved on an award that will be present at all DKC events and receive our gratitude and admiration in perpetuity.
The Melvin B. Tolson Gold Medal of Distinction winner should exemplify the following qualities:
- Embody the spirit, passion and eloquence of Melvin B. Tolson.
- Be an experienced and accomplished debater or debate coach.
- Be a leader who represents their community & DEBATE-Kansas City with honor
- Be dependable and responsible.
- Have exemplary record of bring folks together to support debate.
- Be recognized leader in their field and outspoken advocate for access to education and debate.
DEBATE-Kansas City is proud to announce the first recipient of this award is Gabe Cook. Currently the Director of Debate at the Barstow School and former Executive Director of DEBATE-Kansas City. Gabe has been a leader in debate since he first joined the activity at Neosho High School in southwest Missouri. Gabe went on to attend Missouri State (Southwest Missouri State or SMS in those days) on a full debate scholarship where he qualified for the National Debate Tournament four times and was an Academic All American. After college, Gabe spent 13 years serving DKC. Establishing the middle school debate league and guiding the organization through the great recession of 2008. He continues his tradition of debate excellence as the Director of Debate at the Barstow school where he has qualified three teams to the Tournament of Champions in his two years as head coach. At awards night this year we jokingly awarded him the most improved coach of Kansas City because his student’s success in congressional debate an event Barstow had previously never competed. The truth is we are improved for knowing and working with him over the last 15 years. Gabe is a fierce advocate for debate and is worthy to stand with Melvin B. Tolson as an example of what it means to be a great debater.
Linked below is an interview conducted early May 2020 where Gabe found out he had won the Melvin B. Tolson Gold Medal of Distinction. Congratulations to our dear friend and community leader Gabe Cook!
Full interview of Gabe Cook the 2020 Melvin B. Tolson Gold Medal of Distinction
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