Ivy Bridge Academy Advances to “Sweet 16” Round of Global Debate Comp.

Ivy Bridge Academy Advances to “Sweet 16” Round of IPPF Global Debate Competition

Ivy Bridge Academy is honored to have students advance to the next round of this prestigious IPPF global competition. The Ivy Bridge Academy team is the only team from Georgia to advance to the "Sweet 16" round. Hundreds of debate teams from around the world entered the 2022-23 International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) competition, but only 16 remain – including a team of students from Ivy Bridge Academy in Johns Creek, Georgia. By advancing into the "Sweet 16" round, the students remain eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize. Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students from around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. “The teams advancing demonstrate excellence at research, writing, and advocacy,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and a founder of the IPPF. “The 16 teams remaining will compete in a final round of written debates – in hopes of moving on to oral debates during the IPPF Finals in New York City.” The IPPF’s 22nd annual competition began in October 2022, as 220 teams, representing schools in 22 countries and 31 U.S. states, submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic, “Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an effective model for international cooperation.” Those essays were reviewed by a committee, which determined the top 64 teams based on the overall quality of each 2,800-word essay. In November, the top 64 teams began a single-elimination, written debate competition. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email for the next six weeks. A panel of judges reviewed the essays and selected the winning teams.

In the “Round of 64,” Ivy Bridge Academy advanced over Cornerstone Collegiate Academy of Seoul from Republic of Korea. In the “Top 32” round, Ivy Bridge Academy advanced over Artemis Debate MS from Cape Town, South Africa. The “Sweet 16” round is now underway. Ivy Bridge Academy is competing against Notre Dame San Jose from San Jose, California.The top 16 teams represent schools from 11 U.S. states, Singapore and Canada. On March 30, the “Elite 8” teams will be announced. If Ivy Bridge Academy advances, the team will win a trip to New York City to compete in the IPPF Finals on May 6, 2023, at the Harold Pratt House. The IPPF Finals give students the opportunity to supplement their written scholarships with oral advocacy – competing in debates in front of some of the world’s foremost experts in business, law,and politics. Judges will include Brewer and New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, among others. The winning team will take home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize.

The “Sweet 16” teams are: Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Connecticut BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Arizona Bergen County Debate Club in Fort Lee, New Jersey EEC Debate in Toronto, ON, CanadaH.Edu Institute in San Mateo, California Hamilton High School (Team 2) in Chandler, Arizona The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas, Ivy Bridge Academy in Johns Creek, Georgia, John Handley High School in Winchester, Virginia Mountain View-Los Altos Speech and Debate in Mountain View, California Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colorado Notre Dame San Jose in San Jose, California Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida Potomac Oak in Rockville, Maryland UWC South East Asia in Singapore Wasatch Independent Debate League in Riverton, Utah.

Ivy Bridge Academy offers a debate program that provides a chance for students to improve public speaking skills and engage with current events through the activity of Debate. IBA's Coaches teach debate in after school programs at local Elementary and Middle Schools as well as teach debate at their 3 Atlanta locations. IBA is honored to have passionate, skilled coaches that teach students to have the confidence and experience to debate not only in local but also national tournaments. Learn more about IBA at www.ivydebate.com or contact ibaafterschool@gmail.com.