Articles about the Team

Kentucky Debate Team members David Griffith (left) and Jordan Di (right) received an automatic bid to the 2024 National Debate Tournament.

Kentucky Debate partnership earns automatic NDT bid, sets school record

University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate members David Griffith and Jordan Di have received one of the coveted 16 first-round bids to the 2024 National Debate Tournament hosted by Emory University in April.

UK Debate members Jared Adam and Lauren McBlain.

UK Debate wins 2024 Hoosier Invitational Tournament

University of Kentucky Debate Team members Jared Adam and Lauren McBlain led the team to first place at the University of Indiana Hoosier Invitational. Over three days, the partnership won with a perfect score of 10-0 against 20 universities across 16 states

National debate champion to award-winning chef: Ouita Michel shares lifelong impact of UK Debate

It’s not very often that a nationally-decorated intercollegiate debate record translates to a career as an award-winning chef. However, Ouita Michel, a 1987 political science graduate, credits University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate for inspiring many of the decisions that led her to the culinary arts.

The 2022-2023 Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team.

Kentucky Debate Team ranked for National Debate Tournament

For the eighth year in a row, the University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team is ranked in the top 16 nationally as they enter the National Debate Tournament. The partnership of David Griffith and Austin Kiihnl received a coveted first-round automatic bid to the National Debate Tournament. Kentucky has received a first-round bid each of the past eight years, which ties a UK record (1984-1991). This is UK’s 30^th first round bid and marks 50 years of qualifying for the national tournament.

David Griffith and Austin Kiihnl received top 15 speaker awards.

UK Debate Team sees success at Georgetown University Tournament

In early January, the University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team attended a tournament at Georgetown University, competing alongside nearly 200 students from more than 30 universities.

Devane Murphy is named new head coach of Kentucky Debate.

Murphy Named Head Coach of Kentucky Debate

Devane Murphy has been named the head intercollegiate debate coach for the University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team, housed in the UK College of Communication and Information.

BDC campers pose for a full-camp photo prior to the award ceremony on the last day of camp, June 25.

Bluegrass Debate Coalition Hosts First In-Person Summer Camp

On Saturday, June 25, the Bluegrass Debate Coalition concluded the annual BDC Speech & Debate Summer Camp, hosted at the University of Kentucky. This was the camp’s second year running but its first in-person session.

The BDC Summer Debate Camp will take place in-person from Monday, June 20 through Saturday, June 25.

BDC Hosts Summer Camp to Introduce Middle, High School Students to Debate

This summer, the University of Kentucky’s Bluegrass Debate Coalition (BDC) will host its annual summer camp. The BDC summer camp introduces middle and high school students in Kentucky to the fundamentals of competitive debate, public speaking and critical thinking.

UK Debate Team Finishes Season at National Debate Tournament

The University of Kentucky Intercollegiate Debate Team, housed in the College of Communication and Information, concluded the 2022 debate season at the 76th National Debate Tournament. This year’s tournament featured 45 schools from 24 states and was the first in-person competition the team has competed in since March 2020.