Slovak National Team Students Crowned Champion of International Public Policy Forum Debate Contest
Slovak National Team in Bratislava, Slovakia, bested a field of high schools from around the globe Saturday, May 1, winning the 20th Annual Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition. As the IPPF World Champion, Slovak National Team wins a $10,000 grand prize.
The IPPF is a one-of-a-kind academic collaboration between a law firm’s charitable foundation and a major university. Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, and now jointly administered by NYU, the IPPF is the only competition that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
The IPPF Finals took place virtually in 2021 for the first time in the competition’s history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Competing teams were the final “Elite Eight” to emerge from a field of 180 teams, representing high schools in 19 countries and 25 U.S. states. The teams debated the topic: “Resolved: The benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the harms.”
“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, these students participated in the IPPF and prevailed – attaining the title of IPPF World Champion,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and founder of the IPPF. “They impressed the judges with their research, writing and advocacy skills as they dealt with the issue of artificial intelligence. We are proud to celebrate the Slovak National Team and the thousands of students who took part in the IPPF’s 20th annual competition.”
In the IPPF Finals, Slovak National Team advanced over Peak to Peak Charter School from Lafayette, Colorado, in the quarterfinal round and Potomac Oak from Rockville, Maryland, in the semifinal round, before facing Montgomery Blair High School from Silver Spring, Maryland, in the IPPF Finals.
The Slovak team was represented by students Martin Janco, Soňa Koniarová, Ema Križanová, Anfisa Kryvtsun, Natália Michalcová, Tereza Okálová, Ina Opartyová, Timotej Oršula, and Mário Valek. The team was coached by Timofej Kožuchov and Samuel Nvota.
As runner-up team, Montgomery Blair High School receives a $3,500 prize. Coached by Leigh Tinsley, the team members were Jonathan Wen, Alex Jiang, and Shariar Vaez-Ghaemi.
To learn more about the IPPF, visit www.ippfdebate.com.
Media Reports on Teams Advancing to IPPF Finals
Several media outlets reported on teams of high school students advancing to the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Finals, a global debate contest sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University.
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner and IPPF founder William A. Brewer III says, “Despite the challenges students around the globe are facing due to the pandemic, these students chose to participate in a rigorous academic competition and have excelled. We look forward to seeing them compete — and celebrating their achievement — during the IPPF Finals.”
The Troy Times reported that a team from Troy High School in Michigan advanced to the finals, oral debates which will take place virtually.
“It’s been a unique experience, because we’ve faced three teams so far, and each team has been almost entirely different," said Troy High School senior Sohan Vittalam. "Even if we go in with the same sides, the arguments they make are entirely new, and it’s a very adaptive competition. I think the different viewpoints, you can tell the different things groups prioritize."
Colorado Hometown Weekly reported on a team from Peak to Peak Charter School in Colorado advancing to the finals.
“I think it was kind of surreal,” said Peak to Peak junior Alvina Zhang. “It was a lot of hours of work and having to have a lot of brainpower and dedication to the essays, so I think it really paid off in the end.”
Brewer Foundation Hosts FLP COVID-19 Care Package Giveaway
October 20, 2020 - The Brewer Foundation will host its first COVID-19 Care Package giveaway on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Future Leaders Program (FLP) staff and faculty will hand out packages to participating students that include an FLP face mask, hand sanitizer, canned goods and other items.
Founded in 2001, the FLP is an academic and leadership development program that serves deserving students from the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The program provides academic resources and leadership development training to select students, ages 14-18, from economically challenged neighborhoods. Students are chosen for the FLP based on their scholastic aptitude, school attendance, civic involvement, and leadership potential.
A national model of public-private partnership, FLP classes typically take place on the campuses of the program's private school partners – St. Mark's School of Texas, Greenhill School, The Hockaday School and Episcopal School of Dallas. However, due to COVID-19, classes are currently taking place virtually.
Canadian Students Compete in Brewer Foundation/NYU Debate Contest
The Lake Cowichan Gazette reported on two teams of students from Brentwood College School in Canada advancing to the Top 64 round of the Brewer Foundation/NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition.
The article on January 7, 2020, reported on the teams from the school in Mills Bay, British Columbia, Canada. “If we can make it to the top eight, we’ll get to go to New York for the final competition,” said Brentwood College student debater Mahar Arora, 17. ““It’s pretty exciting because no other team from Brentwood College ever made it this far in this competition.”
The IPPF is the first and only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
“The IPPF presents an exciting opportunity for high school students to engage in issue-oriented advocacy, competing against some of the best debate teams in the world,” said William A. Brewer, founder of the Brewer Foundation and chairman of the IPPF advisory board.
Brewer Foundation/NYU IPPF Debate Contest Making Headlines
The Brewer Foundation and New York University recently announced the high school debate teams advancing to the “Top 64” round of the 19th annual International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition. By advancing, the students remain eligible to win a $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City.
The IPPF is the first and only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
This year, the IPPF received qualifying round essays from more than 150 teams, representing schools in 28 U.S. states and 19 countries. Each essay affirmed or negated the IPPF topic, "Resolved: When in conflict, a nation's self-interest should outweigh its international commitments to migrants."
Media outlets including Patch.com reported on the advancing teams.
Brewer Storefront Hosts RISD Candidates Forum
Brewer Storefront, the firm’s community service legal affiliate, and the North Dallas Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a Candidates Forum on October 14, 2019, at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas for the upcoming Richardson ISD Board of Trustees Election.
The Storefront represented former RISD trustee David Tyson in a voting rights case that resulted in an agreement to establish a new election system with five single member districts and two at large districts on the board. Candidates for District 4 (Regina Harris, Patricia Price Hicks, Taler Jefferson and Sakennia Reed) and District 2 (Vanessa Pacheco) participated in the forum.
Community Impact reported about the debate in an Oct. 15 article titled "Richardson ISD board candidates discuss priorities ahead of first single-member district election on Nov. 5."
"This is really a historical time for Richardson Independent School District under this new five-two model," said Lacy Durham, a North Dallas suburban alumnae and moderator at the forum. "It's an opportunity for us to be more reflective of our diverse community."
On Nov. 5, voters elected Regina Harris to the new District 4 seat. The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board endorsed Harris, and reported that she is a webinar services manager who has also served in various RISD PTA leadership roles, and on the district's diversity committee. Harris is the first African American woman elected to the board.
UNHCR Recognizes Brewer Foundation IPPF Competition and Student Semifinalists
The UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency) reported on a donation the agency received from the 2016-17 semifinalists of the Brewer Foundation / New York University (NYU) International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). After debating the topic of refugee resettlement, the students from duPont Manual High School in Louisville, Kentucky, donated their $1,500 in IPPF winnings to assist refugees.
The article, “With Heads and Hearts, Five Kentucky Teens Rally for Refugees,” discusses the students’ involvement in the competition and their backgrounds as first-generation Americans “with deep personal connections to global migration, refugee issues and generous communities that warmly welcome strangers.”
In a letter to the teens, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi praised their “spirit and goodwill." He also commended NYU and the Brewer Foundation for “fostering such a timely debate” and allowing students to “explore the refugee issue and other important topics with rigor and reflection.”
LEAF Academy Students Crowned Champion of International Public Policy Forum Debate Contest
A team of students from LEAF Academy of Bratislava, Slovakia, bested a field of high schools from around the globe on Saturday, April 21, winning the 17th Annual Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition and a $10,000 grand prize. The final debate was held at The Harold Pratt House in New York City.
The IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
The teams that competed at the IPPF Finals were the final “Elite Eight” teams to emerge from a field that began with 161 teams representing high schools in 17 countries and 30 U.S. states. The teams debated the IPPF topic: “Resolved: International climate accords for greenhouse gas emissions should adopt binding enforcement mechanisms.”
"These student debaters put in months of hard work to achieve the title of IPPF World Champion," said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and founder of the IPPF. "They impressed the judges with their superior research, writing and advocacy skills.”
The runner-up team from William Mason High School of Mason, Ohio, receives a $3,500 prize.
For more information about the competition, go to www.ippfdebate.com