Houston Urban Debate League

Host instructional academic seminars led by attorneys, college professors and other experts on topics relevant to competitive Debate. This includes a summer institute and three weekend seminars during the school year that prepare the students to Debate at tournaments. Students receive in depth Debate training and the opportunity to participate in five different Debate formats. The Houston independent school district and the harris county department of education contributed towards this year's seminars and workshops.provide scholarships and opportunities to travel to state and national Debate tournaments to city championship finalists and runners-up. Approximately 350 students participated in hudl's city championship tournament. The champions in each format were awarded $1,500 in scholarship money to be used at the college or university of their choosing. Runners-up in the four divisions were awarded $750 in scholarship money to be used at the college or university of their choosing. Host Debate tournaments and classes. During the fiscal year, approximately 1,000 students have participated in some aspect of Debate including classes, tournaments and seminars. Hudl builds and sustains these programs within the Houston independent school district ("hisd") and in other harris county schools and makes Debate an educational resource available to all students participating schools free of cost. Additionally, Debate teams are often paired with volunteer Debate mentors who serve as role models and assist the Debate coaches. Hisd and the harris county department of education ("hcde") support the tournaments by funding the direct tournament costs and positions for the League director and deputy League director at hisd and the case debates coordinator and case debates vista at hcde. Hisd and hcde also pay stipends for a coach at approximately $1,400 monthly to serve an academic year. During the fiscal year, the Houston independent school district funded six Debate tournaments, and hcde funded three Debate tournaments.