From staff reports
On Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, students from nearly all public middle and high schools in Beaufort County competed at the Incubate Debate’s second regional competition of the 2023-2024 school year. At the competition, students debated the merits of a federal carbon tax, a potential TikTok ban, and whether or not NATO should accept Ukraine as a member.
Local citizens like Richard Moniuszko of World Affairs Council evaluated students not only in their ability to give a speech, but also in their civility and aptitude for respectful disagreement.
University of Austin Director of Admissions Stephen Asoli addressed students in the awards ceremony, praising them for their willingness to dare to think and pursue truth during the tournament.
May River High School’s Johanna Pierre secured the Championship in the final round in Saturday’s competition. Pierre argued against admitting Ukraine into NATO.
Incubate Debate’s next tournament is on Saturday, Jan. 27 at May River High School, where students will be debating the benefits of the International Monetary Fund, daylight savings time, and whether it was necessary for the U.S. to drop the atomic bombs on Japan. This will be the third and final tournament of the school year hosted in Beaufort County. It will serve as the qualifier, determining which students will represent South Carolina at the prestigious fourth annual Incubate Debate Championship in April in Jacksonville, Fla.
Attending Judges Included:
Stephen Asoli – Director of Admissions, The University of Austin
Ingrid Boatwright – Beaufort County Board of Education, District 11
Carlton Dallas – Beaufort County Board of Education, District 8
Margaret Evans – Editor, Lowcountry Weekly
Richard Geier – Col., U.S. Army (ret.); Beaufort County Board of Education, District 4
Ruth James – Coordinator of Community Initiatives & After School Initiatives, Beaufort County School District
Richard Moniuszko – World Affairs Council, Hilton Head
Dr. John Newman – MD Executive Director, Volunteers in Medicine
Chanda Powell – Interpretive Park Ranger, Reconstruction Era National Historical Park
