Students on the Tennessee Speech and Debate Society (TSDS) team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, are ranked number one in the nation as of October 26, 2018.
The UT team is the only fully student-run and alumni-funded debate team in the national association.
“We are extremely proud of each and every member that has competed with us this year,” says Holly Jackson-Sullivan, team advisor and alumae. “Their continued dedication and willingness to win pushed us to the top!”
The students have been on an upward trajectory for the past few years, winning several individual championship titles during the debate season.
“Our team has not only grown so much this year, but it has also shown that student-run debate programs can compete and win against long-standing debate programs,” says Mickayla Stogsdill, team president and student-coach. “Our team is really good because we have students that are extremely intelligent and unconditionally love debating. You wouldn’t see the success we have without the family dynamic that is always present on trips and in meetings.”
Members of the Tennessee State Legislature also recognize the value of the UT debate team. Representative Eddie Smith and Senator Becky Massey sponsored a resolution to “honor and commend the members of the Tennessee Speech and Debate Society on their remarkable success in debate competition and extend to them our best wishes for every future success.”
For more information about the team, visit their Facebook Page.