Brewer Foundation Announces Partnership with Cornell University Speech and Debate Team
September 22, 2026 — The Brewer Foundation proudly announces that Cornell University's Speech and Debate Team is the newest collegiate partner of the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). Cornell debaters will serve as judges throughout this season's written rounds, bringing collegiate-level rigor to a competition built for high schoolers tackling real policy questions.
The IPPF, now in its 26th year, pairs written and oral debate in a format found nowhere else in international high school competition. Founded by the Brewer Foundation in 2001, and now jointly run with New York University, the competition draws student teams from countries across the world every season.
Sam Nelson, Director of the Cornell University Speech and Debate Team, said the partnership reflects the program’s mission: “Public policy debate teaches students to combine conviction in their own arguments with genuine respect for the strongest opposing views. That is exactly the kind of thinker IPPF aims to develop, and we are proud to support that effort.”
William A. Brewer III, Chairman of the Brewer Foundation and Founder of the IPPF, welcomed Cornell’s participation. “Each partner school we add to IPPF raises the level of competition for our students. Cornell’s debate program has a strong reputation, and its judges will challenge competitors to argue with greater precision.”
Each October, teams submit qualifying-round essays. The IPPF judges select the top 64 teams, who then compete in a single-elimination written bracket that narrows the field to 32, 16, and ultimately the “Elite Eight.” The Brewer Foundation welcomes those eight teams to New York City for the live Finals rounds. The 26th annual IPPF Finals Weekend will take place April 16-17, 2027, when the IPPF World Champion will claim the Brewer Cup and a $10,000 prize.
This year’s teams will debate a resolution with real stakes: Resolved: The United Nations should prioritize protecting the rights of women and girls over respecting state sovereignty. Cornell’s involvement adds depth to a season that already asks students to examine where global obligations end and national sovereignty begins.
Learn more about the IPPF here: International Public Policy Forum | Global Dialogue