iDebate is a leadership development program for junior and senior high school student leaders across America, and maybe the world. Yet to be confirmed for the 2009 program are students from Jordan and possibly several other countries.
Hosted by General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute, the National Center for Policy Analysis and The Academy for Leadership & Liberty at the Oklahoma Christian University, students will receive a week of instructions and valuable interactions with national leaders. The week will end with students presenting their ideas in a televised, free-style debate, moderated by a nationally known debate moderator. Students will share their ideas about the future of America.
What Is iDebate?
iDebate is a five-day program designed to develop skills of student leaders who are well informed about community and national issues. This program gives the students instructions, training in strategic thinking, planning, communication, teamwork and persuasion while honing skills through debate platforms. The topics of discussion will be major issues, such as Social Security and Medicare spending, universal health care, and creating an environmentally sustainable industry for the future of America.
The students receive training during the week from NCPA’s professional policy analysts and debate coaches, university professors and university debate students. Leaders such as NCPA President, Dr. John C. Goodman, professor of leadership, Dr. Nathan B. Mellor and General Tommy Franks will be on hand to instruct and interact with the participants. Additional guest speakers during the 2009 program will be:
- King Abdullah II of Jordan
- Mike Huckabee, former Governor of Arkansas
- Mike O’Neal, president of OC
- Barbara B. Kennelly, member of the Social Security Advisory Board, former counselor to the commissioner of the Social Security Administration and former democratic congresswoman from Connecticut
- Thomas Saving, NCPA senior fellow and former public trustee of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds
- Peter T. Harbage, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress Action Fund and president of Harbage Consulting
- Michele Mary Smith, two-time softball Olympian.
The final debate will be moderated by talk radio host and Fox News contributor Mike Gallagher. Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and Texas Governor Rick Perry will serve as two of the event’s judges. There are 48 American students participating in the 2009 event (July 12-17), with 30 states being represented.
Information On iDebate
Participants pay only $100, which includes airfare and accommodations for the week. The winning team receives $2,500 university scholarships and runners-up receive $1,000 university scholarships. Additional information on the iDebate program, reviews of last year’s debate, and information on the applications for participation can be found here. The first iDebate with General Tommy Franks was presented in August, 2008 where the students debated issues of flat tax, privatizing Social Security and universal health care.
With debate as a vehicle, students will learn the difficulties and complexities of leadership and come to appreciate the importance of open and honest communication in solving difficult problems with high stakes.
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