Global Debate Champions Crowned: Carroll Senior High School Wins IPPF Title, $10,000 Prize
New York, New York — May 3, 2025– After eight months of fierce international competition, a team from Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas, has triumphed at the 24th annual Brewer Foundation / NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Finals — earning the coveted title of IPPF World Champion and a $10,000 grand prize from the Brewer Foundation.
The final debate, held Saturday, May 3, at the Harold Pratt House in Manhattan, concluded a journey that began in October 2024 with 283 teams from 26 countries and 30 U.S. states.
This year’s resolution challenged teams to weigh equity against intellectual property, with teams debating the topic: “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.”
From the original pool of 283 teams, 64 advanced into a rigorous single-elimination written debate tournament. The top eight — the “Elite Eight” — earned an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City as guests of the Brewer Foundation to engage in high-stakes, in-person debates before a panel of global experts.
The final debate was attended by more than 100 contest participants, NYU representatives, and professional staff from the Brewer law firm.
“This team demonstrated a command of the topic and persuasive force that defines the art of advocacy,” said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. “They earned their victory on a big stage, under the intense pressure of world-class intellectual competition.”
Brewer added, “The IPPF doesn’t just build debaters — it cultivates future leaders. At a time when civil discourse among those with opposing views seems nonexistent, this tournament annually engages students around the world in rigorous research, writing, and oral advocacy on a topic of international importance. By doing so, the IPPF equips them with the tools to lead, to question, and to speak with purpose. It’s not just a competition; it’s a proving ground for tomorrow’s policy thinkers and public voices.”
The winning team — coached by Anthony Brown and composed of students Tanya Kuriakose, Amber Lin, Nethra Tummalapalli, and Anushka Velala — bested top contenders in the quarterfinals and semifinals before defeating duPont Manual High School of Louisville, Kentucky, in the final round.
In addition to being named a world champion, debater Amber Lin, a freshman at Carroll Senior, was awarded the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for exceptional performance during the Final Debate.
Additional Awards:
· Runner-Up: duPont Manual High School from Louisville, Kentucky ($5,000 prize)
· Sexton Award Winner: Amber Lin of Carroll Senior High School received the John E. Sexton Award and a $1,000 prize for exceptional performance during the Final Debate.
· Semifinalists: Blue Valley High School of Stilwell, Kanas, and Westwood High School of Austin, Texas ($3,000 each)
· Quarterfinalists: Alpha Co of La Cresenta, California; Kealakehe High School of Kailua-Kona, Hawaii; North Allegheny Senior High School of Wexford, Pennsylvania; and Peak to Peak Charter School of Lafayette, Colorado ($1,500 each)
Judging Panel:
The proceedings were judged by a panel comprised of NYU President Emeritus John Sexton; Miha Andric, an international debate coach and Director of Education Center Argument based in Slovenia; Will Baker, Director of the NYU Global Debate Fund; Trey Smith, Executive Director of East Mountain High School; and Alex Pouille, Zone Europe Chief Financial Officer for Anheuser-Busch InBev. The debate moderator was David Baker, famed debate coach and Director of Admission & Financial Aid at St. Mark’s School of Texas.
About the IPPF and the Brewer Foundation:
The IPPF was founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation and is now jointly administered with New York University. The program is available to all high schools around the world – public and private – for free. The IPPF is endorsed by leading forensic agencies, such as the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues, the International Debate Education Association, the Impact Coalition, Associated Leaders of Urban Debate Leagues, and the National Debate Coaches Association.
The Brewer Foundation is a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. With offices in New York and Dallas, the Foundation has achieved widespread recognition for its efforts to create, fund and manage a variety of educational outreach programs.
Brewer Foundation Celebrates Graduates of Its Future Leaders Program
Dallas, Texas — April 28, 2025 – The Brewer Foundation honored its 2025 Future Leaders Program (FLP)graduates this weekend, celebrating a milestone achievement for 18 seniors, including two students awarded the prestigious QuestBridge National College Scholarship and one student awarded the Gates Scholarship.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, the FLP provides year-round academic courses, leadership training, and cultural enrichment to more than 150 Dallas Independent School District (DISD) students, ages 12 – 18, at no cost. Designed for students, many of whom are the first in their families to pursue college, the FLP prepares future leaders to succeed in school, excel in college, and become pillars of their community.
The 2025 FLP graduates were recognized in a special ceremony on Saturday, April 26, at the Episcopal School of Dallas, attended by FLP faculty, families, and professional staff from Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors.
“We created FLP to help promising students reach their full potential,” said William A. Brewer III, FLP founder and Brewer Foundation Chairman. “Seeing these students achieve this extraordinary graduation milestone is incredibly rewarding – proof that hard work and educational access can transform lives."
A Vision for Success
Students are selected for the FLP based on scholastic aptitude, civic engagement, and leadership potential. The curriculum supplements the education students receive at their home schools, with coursework that includes humanities, advanced mathematics, and psychology. Each class is co-taught by both a private school and public-school teacher — a unique collaboration designed to bring together diverse ideas and perspectives.
The program partners with DISD several of Dallas’ top private schools, including St. Mark’s School of Texas, The Hockaday School, Greenhill School, and the Episcopal School of Dallas.
Since 2009, FLP seniors have received more than $20 million in scholarship offers. FLP alumni are graduates of many elite colleges and universities, including New York University, Yale University, Northwestern University, Pomona College, The University of Texas at Austin, Southern Methodist University, and Texas Christian University.
2025 FLP Graduates
Maya Alvarez
Juan Cabellero
Marian Cuenca
Elizabeth Espinoza
Alfredo Fuente, QuestBridgeScholar
Estrella Garcia, Gates Scholar
Madison Johnson
Andres Juarez
Juan Leos-Reyna
Anaya Martinez
Jonathan Martinez
Isaac Molina, QuestBridge Scholar
Lizbeth Ojeda
Lindsey Rodriquez
Jazmine Salinas
Shruti Sharma
Evelyn Sida
Julissa Zuniga
Learn more about the QuestBridge National College Scholarship here.
Explore the Future Leaders Program here.
Support our mission to expand opportunity for promising students here.
Brewer Foundation Announces Attorney and Community Advocate Ian Shaw as President
February 24, 2025 – The Brewer Foundation today announced attorney and community advocate Ian Shaw as its president. Mr. Shaw will have oversight of all aspects of the 501(c)3 Brewer Foundation, the charitable affiliate of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors. Mr. Shaw was most recently with Munsch Hardt Kopf & Harr, P.C, where he practiced commercial litigation, labor employment, and personal injury defense.
Today’s announcement marks Mr. Shaw's return to the Brewer team. He previously worked in the consulting group in the firm’s New York office and was an associate in the firm’s Dallas office.
“Ian is a committed community advocate and trusted leader – with a background in team leadership, public service, and educational issues,” says William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation. “His role as president of the Brewer Foundation represents the growth of the Foundation and its programs, and the need to invest more in managing them for the future.”
Founded in 1995, the Brewer Foundation supports a range of community initiatives, with a special emphasis on developing, overseeing, and funding a growing array of educational programs. Among these are the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP) and Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF).
The FLP is an academic and leadership development program that benefits more than 200 students, ages 12 to 18, from urban communities within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). Through year-round academic courses, leadership training, and exposure to a wide array of cultural programs, the FLP helps prepare its “future leaders” for success in college and beyond.
Since its inception in 2001, the FLP has graduated hundreds of students, many of whom have gone on to be first-or second-generation college students. FLP graduates have earned more than $20 million in scholarship offers. Seven FLP students have been named QuestBridge Scholars, and three have been named Gates Scholars – some of the nation’s most prestigious scholarships. The program has been recognized by the Texas State Board of Education and the Texas Governor’s Office.
“I am excited to join the Brewer Foundation and help build the FLP’s blueprint for the future,” Shaw says. “We are eager to explore new partnerships, continually improve our academic offerings, and help these students realize their visions for success. The program is a testament to the power of education and the belief that every student deserves equal opportunity.”
The IPPF is the only competition that gives high school students around the globe the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. Thousands of students participate each year. During the 2024-25 competition, 283 teams representing schools in 26 countries and 30 U.S. states submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the contest topic. Now in its 24th year, the IPPF will host the “IPPF Finals” in May at the Harold Pratt House in New York City.
Over its history, the Foundation has contributed more than $25 million to more than 60 charities in areas such as medicine, the arts, and human rights. All the firm’s professionals are given the opportunity to support the Foundation – and its impact on future generations.
Mr. Shaw will also contribute to the Brewer Storefront, the firm’s community service legal affiliate. Founded in 1995, the Storefront tackles local and national issues, providing legal assistance to a wide range of individuals, businesses, and community entities in need. The Storefront is currently handling several Voting Rights Act cases in North Texas – advocating for voting equality and giving a voice to minority communities.
Outside of his professional duties with the Brewer Foundation and Storefront, Mr. Shaw is a member of the Dallas Bar Association of Young Lawyers, JL Turner Association, Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the Dallas Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development Council. He is currently in the middle of a term with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, as appointed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
International Public Policy Forum Announces Advancing “Sweet 16” Teams
February 24, 2025 – The Brewer Foundation and New York University recently announced the advancing "Sweet 16" teams competing in the 2024-25 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) — the first and only debate contest that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
By advancing into the "Sweet 16" round, the teams remain eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize. The 2024 – 25 IPPF topic resolution is: “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.”
"These teams dedicated months to analyzing a complex public policy issue and crafting written advocacy on both sides of the question," says William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. "The upcoming round is pivotal, as it decides which teams earn the opportunity to travel to New York and face off in the ultimate test of oral advocacy.”
The advancing teams are:
AfterSkool Learning Centre from Singapore, Singapore
Akademeia High School from Warsaw, Poland
Alpha Co from La Crescenta, California
Alpharetta High School from Alpharetta, Georgia
Blue Valley High School from Stilwell, Kansas
Carroll Senior High School from Southlake, Texas
duPont Manual High School from Louisville, Kentucky
Ethos Academy from Vancouver, BC, Canada
Kealakehe Public High School from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
North Allegheny Senior High School from Wexford, Pennsylvania
Peak to Peak Charter School from Lafayette, Colorado
Rowland Hall from Salt Lake City, Utah
Slovak Debate Association from Bratislava, Slovakia
The Westminster Schools from Atlanta, Georgia
Westwood High School from Austin, Texas
William Mason High School from Mason, Ohio
The IPPF's 24th annual contest began in October 2024, when 283 teams representing schools in 26 countries submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic. A committee reviewed those essays and determined the “Round of 64” teams based on the overall quality of each 3,000-word essay.
In November, the “Round of 64” teams began a single-elimination, written debate tournament. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email. A panel of judges reviewed the essays in the order they were presented and selected the advancing 32 teams, who then engaged in another round of debates against new opponents.
The "Sweet 16" round is now underway and will conclude in late March with the announcement of the advancing final eight teams. To learn more about the IPPF, click here.
CBS News Texas Reports on Storefront Lawsuit Against Keller ISD
February 14, 2025 — Brewer Storefront founder William A. Brewer III appeared on CBS News Texas today, speaking on behalf of his client, Keller Independent School District (Keller ISD) parent Claudio Vallejo, regarding his case against Keller ISD and its Board of Trustees. In a lawsuit filed on February 14, Vallejo alleges that the Keller ISD electoral system violates the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
"This Voting Rights Act of course provides a remedy for voters of color whose votes are being diluted by any [improper] scheme," Brewer said.
The lawsuit says, “From the outside looking in, KISD portrays itself as a premier public school district lauded for its commitment to academic excellence and student success. Families move to the district attendance area in pursuit of high-quality education, believing KISD to be a model of opportunity and fairness. However, for Mr. Vallejo, a long-time resident and invested parent, this image is far from reality.”
As of the 2023-24 school year, KISD was a majority-minority school district, enrolling 33,250 students, of whom nearly 25% are Hispanic. Yet, all seven of the board members are white and non-Hispanic.
Currently, KISD trustees are elected through at-large elections, which Vallejo claims denies Hispanic voters the opportunity to elect candidates of their choosing. The Storefront proposes that Keller ISD has options to adopt a more inclusive voting system, including a cumulative voting model. He believes a more diverse board would be able to better address performance gaps seen in minority students.
To watch the report, click here.
San Antonio Express-News Reports on Local High School Advancing into the Top 32 Round of the IPPF
January 10, 2025 — The San Antonio Express-News today reported that a team of students from Ronald Reagan High School in San Antonio, Texas, have advanced into the Top 32 round of the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) — a high school debate contest sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University.
By advancing, the team remains eligible to win a $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City this May.
The report notes that the contest began in October, when 283 teams submitted qualifying round essays on the topic, "Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over intellectual property rights."
"We commend all the advancing teams for their achievement on this global stage," said William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. "This is among the most complex and pressing issues on which our students have ever debated. As advocates, our law firm started this competition with a vision to promote what we see here — an extraordinary level of academic research, scholarship, and discourse."
The publication reports that the Brewer Foundation created the IPPF in 2001 to "inspire students to think critically and develop skills to make a broader impact. The competition went global in 2009 and today attracts thousands of high school debaters worldwide."
To read the full report, click here (subscription required).
Brewer Foundation, NYU Announce "Top 32" Teams Advancing in International Debate Competition
January 8, 2025 — The Brewer Foundation and New York University (NYU) recently announced which high school debate teams have advanced into the "Top 32" round of the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) — the first and only contest that gives students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
The IPPF's 24th annual contest began in October 2024 as 283 teams, representing schools in 26 countries, submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic, “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.” Those essays were reviewed by a committee, which determined the “Round of 64” teams based on the overall quality of each 3,000-word essay.
In November, the “Round of 64” teams began a single-elimination, written debate tournament. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email. A panel of judges reviewed the essays in the order they were presented and selected the advancing 32 teams.
“We commend all the advancing teams for their achievement on this global stage,” says William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and founder of the IPPF. “This is among the most complex and pressing issues on which our students have ever debated. As advocates, our law firm started this competition with a vision to promote what we see here – an extraordinary level of academic research, scholarship, and discourse.”
The advancing "Top 32" teams represent schools in 15 U.S. states and nine countries, including Poland and the United Arab Emirates.
The "Top 32" round of the contest is now underway. To view a complete list of the advancing teams, click here.
Brewer Foundation, NYU Announce “Top 64” for Global Debate Contest
November 6, 2024 – The Brewer Foundation today announced the “Top 64” teams for the 24th annual International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
This year’s qualifying round involved submissions from 283 teams representing schools in 26 countries and 30 U.S. states. This is the second-largest year in competition history.
Teams drafted essays in the affirmative or negative on the topic, “Resolved: Equitable access to pharmaceuticals should be prioritized over protecting intellectual property rights.” The advancing 64 teams will now compete in a written, single-elimination debate tournament – as teams advance through the rounds with a chance to earn an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to compete in the IPPF Finals in May 2025. The overall winner is named the IPPF World Champion, receives the Brewer Cup, and is awarded a $10,000 grand prize.
Visit this link to see which teams advanced.