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The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announces the results of the 2023 Great Communicator Debate Series National Championship

(Simi Valley, CA.) The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud to announce the results of the Great Communicator Debate Series National Championship held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. The topic “Advances in Generative Artificial Intelligence pose a threat to independent thought” brought about lively debate. The on-site judges' results were tabulated along with the votes from viewers across America to decide who will be the next “Great Communicator.”

Congratulations to our 2023 recipients and their high schools. To see the final round of debate and the awards ceremony introducing each debater, view it on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/watch?v=YXwkkBCMNTk.

$10,00 Scholarship Recipient  
Sahil Sood Lambert High School Suwanee, GA
$7,500 Scholarship Recipient  
Srisha Raj Broad Run High School Ashburn, VA
$5,250 Scholarship Recipients  
Zachary Stoyer Chaminade High School Mineola, NY
Ephraim Bowling Mount St. Mary Catholic School Oklahoma City, OK
$2,500 Scholarship Recipients  
Luke Brooker Homeschool New Waverly, TX
Samuel Ma United Christian Academy Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Elyse Rogers Classical Conversations Springfield, MO
Amari Luu Pine Creek High School Colorado Springs, CO
$1,500 Scholarship Recipients
Lukas Koutsoukos Wilton High School Wilton, CT
Tinghan Wang Acton-Boxborough Regional High School Acton, MA
Joseph Lin Homeschool Hollis Hills, NY
Anna Brutocao The Chadwick School Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA
Solomon Naraine Rockhurst High School Kansas City, MO
Mason Renner Rockhurst High School Kansas City, MO
Kyle Letterer Plano West Senior High School Plano, TX
Kayden Carr Rock Hill High School Frisco, TX

Each of the 16 finalists received an all-expense paid trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA where they competed for the top spot and a share of $50,000 in scholarships.

The Great Communicator Debate Series (GCDS) is a national speech and debate tour with six in-person regional competitions and two online events with the national tournament hosted in

Simi Valley, CA. “The Great Communicator Debate Series is designed to showcase the logic and persuasion skills of high school students across the country,” reported Janet Tran, Chief Learning Officer at the Reagan Foundation. “Engaging in civil discourse through debate, where students learn that every issue has multiple sides, empowers them to be well-rounded citizens who can express their views and respect the views of others--just as President Reagan did.”

About the Great Communicator Debate Series
The Ronald Reagan Great Communicator Debate Series was founded in 2012 to develop engaged, informed, and conscientious citizen leaders by hosting a national series of high school debates for students enrolled in grades 9-12. The debates search for students who can effectively use logic, evidence, and personality to communicate their ideas. Engaging in civil discourse is a hallmark of American democracy, and this debate series encourages students to join the conversation on issues our country faces.

For information on the Great Communicator Debate Series please visit our website at www.reaganfoundation.org/gcds

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with continuing his legacy and sharing his principles – individual liberty, economic opportunity, global democracy and national pride. The Foundation is a non-partisan organization which sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley, CA, the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, the Presidential Learning Center, The Air Force One Pavilion, the award-winning Reagan Leadership Center, and the Reagan Institute, which carries out the Foundation’s mission in Washington, D.C.

The Reagan Library houses over 55 million pages of Gubernatorial, Presidential and personal papers and over 60,000 gifts and artifacts chronicling the lives of Ronald and Nancy Reagan. It also serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and former First Lady Nancy Reagan.

For more information about the Ronald Reagan Foundation and Institute or to become a member please contact https://www.reaganfoundation.org/support-us/become-a-member/

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