Wichita State Debate
How to Join
Joining the Wichita State Debate team is a great opportunity to develop your critical thinking and public speaking skills, make new friends, and compete with and against some of the best debaters in the nation. To get started, it is recommended that you first fill out the scholarship application form.
Once you have completed the scholarship application, the next step is to contact the Director of Debate, Phillip Samuels, at phillip.samuels@wichita.edu. Dr. Samuels is more than willing to assist with any questions you may have about the debate team, the application process, and the selection criteria for new team members.
When you contact Dr. Samuels, be sure to introduce yourself and express your interest in joining the debate team. Let him know why you are passionate about debate and what you hope to gain from participating in the team. You may also want to mention any previous debate experience you have had, including any awards or accomplishments.
From there, Dr. Samuels can provide you with additional information about the debate team, including its practice schedule, tournament schedule, and team philosophy.
The debate room is located in the basement of Elliot Hall, and Dr. Samuels office is located in Elliot 205.
The History
Having been established in the 19th century, the Wichita State debate team has a long and rich history of excellence. Producing numerous nationally competitive and championship calibre teams. This is a testimate to the hard work and dedication of the students and coaches involved. Wichita State Universities dedication to academic rigor has played a significant role in this success.
Robert Shields and Lee Thomspon won the 1968 National Debate Tournament and cemented a legacy of success for the Wichita State debate team. Since then Wichita State has consistently cleared teams to the top 32, 16, and 8 competitors at both the National Debate Tournament and the CEDA National Championships.
More recently the team has cleared teams to the top 32 competitors at the National Debate Tournament, top 16 competitors at the CEDA national championship, and has consistently been ranked amongst the top teams in the nation for inter-colegiate policy debate.
Scholarships
Wichita State University is committed to supporting the academic and extracurricular pursuits of its students, regardless of prior experience or skill level.
If you are a student who is passionate about debate and looking to join the Wichita State debate team, you should definitely consider filling out the application. One of the best ways to be considered for these scholarships is to contact the team director directly. By reaching out to Phil Samuels at phillip.samuels@wichita.edu, you can get answers to any questions you may have possible scholarship opportunities provided through the debate team.
Phil Samuels - Dr. Samuels is the Director of Debate and Assistant Professor of Communication. In his second year as director the Shockers have qualified to the National Debate Tournament and have attended the Cross Examination Debate Association National Tournament, making it to elimination rounds at both tournaments. Dr. Samuels came to us from the University of Texas Dallas and The University of Kansas where he coached teams to elimination rounds at every major national tournament in college including the NDT.
Lauren Woodall - Assistant Coach
Lauren Woodall is a Graduate Teaching Assistant studying Communication at Wichita State University. They came to us from Missouri State University, where they competed in NDT/CEDA and NFA-LD. In addition to assisting the debate team, Lauren teaches Public Speaking classes.
