On Saturday, the Great Debaters Policy Debate Team participate in Washington Urban Debate League opening tournament. The league celebrated the life of Keoni Scott-Reid, one of the league’s first alums who recently passed away and had taught several of our students. Seventh grader Brooke Roberson won a second place speaker award, and Niamh O’Donovan won a ninth place speaker award and their team came in second place in their Junior Varsity division. Other junior varsity participants included eighth grader Dami Akinsanya and seventh grader Amal Buba, along with seventh grade team Sarah Schifferle and Alice Pittard. This was the first debate for novices Ruby Rae McCants and Zoey Derricott. The students debate and both affirmed and negated the resolution that the USFG should substantially reduce DCS and/or FMS of arms from the United States. The team will debate again on November 2nd at Columbia Heights Educational Campus.