Union’s Debate Team, led by Rebekah Whitaker, director of debate, had an extremely successful season and ended the year by winning countless individual and team awards, including the Founders Award and Scholastic Award.
In total, the team won 148 awards over the course of the season, and many were won by overwhelming margins.
Whitaker expressed her thanks to the University for helping the season be the best it could be. She thanked the administration for the constant encouragement and accommodations, the safety and security staff and budgeting offices for making the team’s travel smooth and easy and Web Drake, the previous director of debate, for creating a foundation of excellence for the team.
“The students have worked diligently to prepare for each tournament,” said Whitaker. “They completed about 425 practice rounds, spent countless hours prepping debate cases, rode in vans for 4,400 miles, ate more Wendy’s and consumed more coffee than what is even remotely healthy, laughed more than I thought possible and won 148 awards.”
Whitaker was new to the team this year and was thankful for her warm welcome by both students and colleagues. She expressed her gratitude to the team for loving her so well and trusting her, even when she pushed them.
“We all started out this year a little skeptical because we weren’t sure if Coach Whitaker would hold the legacy that was formed by Dr. Drake,” said Takiya Britton, sophomore political science major. “But she completely exceeded our expectations.”
Because this season was full of transitions — first a new coach and then online learning — it was a season of growing. The team had such a successful year, so when they heard the national championship was cancelled the day before they were scheduled to leave, they were devastated. Instead of ending the season at the national championship, they held a virtual awards ceremony in order to celebrate the season and the graduating seniors.
The team was thankful for the opportunity to get together one last time, even if it was online. They were able to laugh, cry and reminisce about the past season. For the team and Whitaker, it was a time of light in the midst of such a crazy time.
“And now we are looking forward to next year — to more laughter and joy, to more practice rounds and to more opportunities to share Christ and to know Him better,” said Whitaker. “We are blessed.”
Photo courtesy of Neil Cole