The JW Patterson Tournament of Champions (TOC) is the premier national and international high school speech and debate championship, hosted annually each April by the University of Kentucky. Founded in 1972, the TOC is recognized as the most rigorous and prestigious competition in the global high school speech and debate community, often referred to as the “championship of the national circuit.”

Participation in the TOC is earned through a competitive qualification process, where students secure “bids” at over 100 prestigious qualifying tournaments across the United States and worldwide.

The TOC is dedicated to fostering excellence in speech and debate through high-level competition, fair and quality judging, and a collegial environment that inspires growth and learning. As part of the University of Kentucky debate program, the TOC mission extends beyond competition striving to promote speech and debate on and beyond the campus.

In alignment with this mission, the TOC is committed to increasing accessibility and supporting outreach initiatives that expand competitive opportunities for all students.