Stamford High Debate Captain Wins Championship, Big Scholarship

STAMFORD, CT — Stamford Public Schools announced this week that a high school student won first place the summer at the Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series, winning a $10,000 scholarship in the process.

Aron Ravin, a Stamford High School senior and captain of the school's debate team, was invited to compete in the national championship in Simi Valley, California, in July. He competed against 11 other regional qualifiers.

Revin was eligible to compete after winning the online regional championship in May, according to a statement from Stamford Public Schools.

"Watching Aron online during that final round was so rewarding," debate coach Jeremy White said in a statement. "He has worked very hard to become a force on the Connecticut debate circuit. To win a national championship is so awesome, and I couldn't be more proud."

The resolution the competitors debated was "On balance, a mandated minimum wage would harm small businesses."

Ravin succeeded through the round-robin, which qualified him to compete in the quarterfinals, and onto the semifinals, both of which he won by a 3-2 victory. In the finals, he debated the negative and won 4-1 to take home the national championship and scholarship.

According to the organization, the series was founded to "develop engaged, informed and conscientious citizen leaders" through a national series of high school debates for students who can use logic, evidence and personality to communicate their ideas.

National Championship qualifiers received an all-expenses paid trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, which included a private tour of the library, dinner under the wings of Air Force One and a chance to meet a group of young leaders.