Parker School student makes his mark at national debate competition

Parker School rising senior Oscar Amos has been recognized as one of the top 33 Lincoln-Douglas debaters in the country.

Amos advanced to the elimination rounds of the National Speech and Debate Tournament held two weeks ago in Des Moines, Iowa. He competed in 10 rounds of the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, a demanding one-on-one format that requires quick thinking, a deep understanding of complex ethical and philosophical issues, and persuasive argumentation.

Additionally, individuals who enjoy the Lincoln-Douglas style of debate enjoy exploring questions of morality, justice and society. Students prepare cases and then engage in an exchange of cross-examinations and rebuttals in an attempt to convince a judge that they are the better debater in the round.

After the initial six preliminary rounds, Amos emerged as one of the top competitors, winning nine out of 12 possible ballots — a feat that qualified him to move on to elimination rounds, where competition intensifies among the nation’s most elite high school debaters.

He advanced through two more elimination rounds before concluding his journey in the third elimination round on Wednesday, June 18. This achievement earned him the official designation of Debate Elimination Round Qualifier, placing him in the top 33 competitors in the nation.

“To reach this level at the national tournament is exceptional,” said Parker School’s debate coach, Rachel Wilczewski. “Thousands of students from all 50 states compete throughout the year for a chance to attend nationals. To not only qualify but also advance through multiple elimination rounds speaks to Amos’s intellect, discipline, and hard work.”

Five additional Parker upper school students qualified and participated in the National Speech and Debate Tournament, which is the largest academic competition in the world, drawing more than 6,000 students each year.

Visit the National Speech and Debate Tournament website to learn more about the Lincoln-Douglas Debate.