2021 "TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS" SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION

THE PATTERSON SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT

Educational Opportunities in Speech and Debate

In 2019, THE PATTERSON SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT was established to provide need-based scholarships in speech and debate to qualified high-school students.

With a strong belief in the life-long value of communication skills, the Foundation seeks through this Endowment to broaden educational and competitive opportunities to students who would otherwise be unable due to financial constraints.

The Patterson Scholarship Endowment provides need-based assistance that covers application and registration fees, travel expenses, and where necessary, tuition for the following:

Attendance at the "Tournament of Champions."

Attendance at Qualifying Tournaments required to receive a "bid" to the "Tournament of Champions."

Attendance at National Summer Speech and Debate Camps of the student's choice.

"Tournament of Champions"

The "Tournament of Champions" (TOC) is an annual national high school debate tournament founded by Dr. Patterson in 1971 while Director of Debate at the University of Kentucky.

The Tournament is considered to be the national championship of the National Circuit, and one of the most prestigious and competitive high school debate tournaments in America. Read more about the history of the "TOC" HERE.

Today the Tournament has expanded to include Lincoln-Douglas Debate, added in 1986, Public Forum, added in 2004, Congressional Debate, added in 2005, and numerous individual speech events. The "Tournament of Champions" represents a wide swath of the high school academic community, from public schools to private and homeschoolers from across the country, from Anchorage, Alaska to Miami, Florida. To see a list of past winners, CLICK HERE.

Since 2000, The Julia Burke Foundation has awarded THE JULIA BURKE AWARD annually at the TOC to a “policy debater who achieves competitive excellence in high-school policy debate on the national circuit, and who demonstrates a goodness of heart despite the pressures of competition at the highest level.” To learn more about THE JULIA BURKE AWARD, CLICK HERE.

The Julia Burke Foundation also helped launch a scholarship program in 2013 that enables students who qualify for the The "Tournament of Champions," to travel and participate in the tournament regardless of income accessibility. To date, more than 100 scholarships have been awarded to students throughout the country. To apply for a 2021 Scholarship to "The Tournament of Champions," CLICK HERE.

In delivering the Keynote Address at the "Breakfast of Champions" at the "Tournament of Champions" some years past, the theme of the speaker’s address was entitled: “One More
Round.”

The best of debate is the doing of debate - - - doing it well, doing it honestly and
doing it with a passion that makes one realize just how much one can learn and grow from
participating in this beautiful activity.

Make the most of your journey through debate because when it is over, and your last round has concluded, the passion will remain alive for wanting to do more - - - because what you did was so meaningful to your creation of self.

Bill Smelko, Of Counsel,
Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch
San Diego, California

THE "TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS" IS TURNING 50!

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The 2020 "Tournament of Champions" Awards Assembly

Qualifying Tournaments

As of 2020, The Patterson Foundation will begin offering scholarship opportunities to assist students who wish to compete in tournaments that allow them to qualify to attend "The Tournament of Champions."

Students qualify to compete at the "TOC" by earning "bid" legs based on their performance during the regular competitive season at national and regional tournaments.

"The Tournament of Champions" represents a wide swath of the high school academic community, from public schools to private and homeschoolers from across the country, from Anchorage, Alaska to Miami, Florida.

The "TOC Advisory Committee" decides which of the nation's debate tournaments will serve as qualifying tournaments, seeking to strike a balance between the geographic diversity provided by regional tournaments and large tournaments that draw nationally.

National Speech & Debate Summer Camps

In 2016, The Patterson Foundation established scholarship opportunities to assist high school students from throughout the country to attend a national summer camp of their choice.

To learn more about scholarship opportunities for summer debate camps, CLICK HERE.

The J.W. Patterson Foundation for Academic Excellence in Speech & Debate
2901 Richmond Road, Suite 140-303
Lexington, Kentucky 40509
312.525.9645

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