As reported in Campus Life Today Newsletter (April 27, 2022)

From left: Henry Mitchell, sophomore; Margaret Hecht, first-year; Grace Kessler, sophomore; Eu Giampetruzzi, junior; Shreyas Rajagopal, sophomore; Andrew Pak, junior; Jacob Palmer, sophomore; Manny Navarrete, senior. Photo by Becca Steiner.

Prior to the National Debate Tournament (NDT) at James Madison University in April, junior Eugenia Giampetruzzi and sophomore Grace Kessler were named the 3rd ranked team in the country, their second time achieving that honor. During the tournament, three Emory teams reached the elimination rounds, competing against 78 teams, which represented 46 schools. Junior Andrew Pak, sophomores Shreyas Rajagopal and Henry Mitchell, and first-year Margaret Hecht were double-octafinalists. Eugenia and Grace were octafinalists, finishing in the top 16. Invited to substitute when another team dropped out, senior Manny Navarrete and sophomore Jacob Palmer debated several rounds, a rare opportunity for a 4th team from one school.

Emory students' speaking performance was equally exciting. Shreyas was named 20th overall speaker and Grace was named fifth. Eugenia was first overall speaker at the tournament, receiving the Ross K. Smith Top Speaker Award. She is the first woman from Emory to receive this honor, the second Emory debater to do so, and the seventh woman in NDT history to achieve this recognition.

Learn more:
Barkley Forum for Debate, Dialogue, and Deliberation
National Debate Tournament