KCKCC hosts high school debate camp

KANSAS CITY, KAN. ----- Kansas City Kansas Community College is hosting a week-long debate camp to help high school debaters prepare for the upcoming season.

The camp, which started Aug. 4, is free for high school students and is hosted by the KCKCC Debate Team with support from the Division of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the Vice President of Academic Affairs Office and the Vice President of Financial and Administrative Services.

The goal is to teach high school students about the debate topic they will be debating in the coming school year.

Offered as a free alternative to more expensive summer institutes, some costing as much as $3,000, students from all over the Kansas City area attend the camp. In the past, some have come from as far away as southern Missouri and southern and western Kansas.

“It helps students who may not be able to afford more expensive residential camps,” said Darren Elliott, coach of the national-champion KCKCC debate team and director of the debate camp. “Over the course of the week, one to two dozen students from area high schools will attend various lectures.”

In addition to Elliott, KCKCC Assistant Debate Coach Scott Elliott serves as a lecturer for the camp. This year, he is giving the topic lecture because he is considered an expert in the field of this year's high school topic – “Resolved: The United States federal government should substantially increase its non-military exploration and/or development of the Earth’s oceans.”

Elliott received his law degree from the University of Texas while he was assisting with environmental law and ocean policy.

High school students attending the camp will have the opportunity to listen to a variety of lectures during the week including all aspects of ocean policy. Lectures are delivered by both Darren Elliott and Scott Elliott as well as members of the KCKCC Debate Team, and other college and high school coaches.

For more information on the KCKCC debate program or the high school debate camp, contact Darren Elliott at 913-288-7295 or by email at delliott@kckcc.edu.