The debate is over! UAIS students dominate state tournament

The debate is over - and Utica Academy for International Studies students have once again captured first place and other top honors at a state debate tournament.

Senior Danny Haidar placed first and UAIS students earned more than half of the top ten spots at the January 10-11 debate championship in Dexter, sponsored by the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association. 

UAIS Legislative Debaters earned five of the top ten spots at the novice level and six of the top ten spots at the varsity level. 

The debates surrounded a series of hypothetical legislative bills written by the participants. Topics ranged from copyright law to mandatory life sentencing. 

The team was coached by UAIS teacher Christopher Kuhlman, who was recently named Debate Coach of the Year by Michigan Speech Coaches, Inc.
 
This is the third straight year a UAIS student has captured the top spot. 

Specific honors earned by UAIS students are:
Novice Division:

• 2nd place-Joana Lepuri 
• 3rd place-Pietro Pellerito
• 5th place-Hank Kennedy
• 6th place-Pragya Thakur
• 8th place-Eric Simmons
• Placing in finals- Paige Benard 

• State Champ-Danny Haidar
• 3rd place-Alyssa Sanderson
• 5th place-Omar Afify
• 6th place-Alec Franks
• 8th place-Katy Surhigh
• 10th place-Sanjeet Subramanian
• Placing in finals-Jasmine Coles 
• Placing in finals-Austin Fishe