WAY TO GO BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL!

SOME KIDS YOU CAN BE PROUD OF IN HOUSTON!

HISD’s Bellaire High School (5100 Maple, 77401) has the top debate team in the country again after winning the finals in New York City this past weekend. After competing in the Bickel & Brewer/New York University National Public Policy Forum (NPPF) finals for five consecutive years, the team won its second first place in a row in the national debate competition. The students were awarded $10,000 in scholarships and the “Bickel & Brewer Cup” at a special ceremony.

The NPPF is the only national contest that gives high school students the opportunity to participate in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. This year’s competition began in October when students from more than 100 high schools (representing 26 states) submitted case studies on this year’s topic, on whether the United States should substantially increase alternative energy incentives. From the original pool, sixteen advanced to a single-elimination written debate tournament. These teams volleyed debates back and forth via e-mail, with judges narrowing the field to eight teams and then to four over a six month period. The final four teams competed this past weekend at NYU.

Debate team coach Russell Rach said, “This is the fifth time Bellaire has gone to the finals in New York. We placed second two years ago, first last year and again this year. Our students were determined to win it all again this year, and put in the extra time and effort to get there. I’m extremely proud of the accomplishments of our student debaters.”

Andrew Garbarino, senior and team captain; Jacob Aronowitz, junior; Sharon Sun, junior; Wilma Qiu, junior; Matt Times, junior; and Judy Sun, junior, under the direction of coach Russell Rach sailed through the semi final round against Glenbrook North High School from Chicago, Illinois winning a 5-0 decision.