Howard County, Maryland February 26, 2007 The new Howard County policy debate teams swept the top three medals in both team and individual awards in the last novice policy debate tournament of the season, held Saturday at Dulaney High School. In team awards, Edward Zhang and Jimmy Hancock of Centennial High School, the only undefeated novice debate team of the tournament, won the gold medal, with Glenelg’s teams of Christina Lee/Elizabeth Ferris and Elisabeth McClure/Mike Taylor close on their heels, taking the silver and bronze team medals, respectively.

In individual awards, Elizabeth Ferris of Glenelg High School took the gold medal for top overall speaker. Edward Zhang of Centennial took the silver medal as second overall speaker, followed by Elisabeth McClure for the bronze medal, tied for third overall speaker.

The county’s top Varsity policy debate team of Mike Freedman and Ben Jackson from Wilde Lake High School was unable to attend, but won enough debates earlier in the season to advance to the Baltimore Catholic Forensic League District Finals, where they will compete on March 24th.

  “These successes are testament to the strength of Howard County students and their coaches and the efforts of Howard County School administrators Zeleana Morris, Tom Payne and Kelli Midley-Biggs to provide debate and speech opportunities in all Howard County High Schools,” according to Ronald Bratt, founder of the nonprofit Capitol Debate. “Our nonprofit is committed to working closely with Morris, Payne and Biggs to select and train 3 new Howard County Public School debate teams for next year.”

  Capitol Debate

Capitol Debate is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting policy debate. Capitol Debate assists schools in setting up teams, recruiting students and coaches, fundraising and sustainability.