Florida Civics and Debate Initiative 2026 State Championship Winners

Record-Breaking Participation at Florida Civics and Debate Championship

In an inspiring display of burgeoning talent, Florida’s Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship saw record participation this year. Hosted at the New College of Florida and State College of Florida, the event gathered 748 middle and high school students, a significant increase from the 434 participants last year. This surge highlights Florida’s dedication to fostering civics education.

Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas expressed pride in the state’s leadership in civics education, stating, “Florida continues to lead the nation in civics education because we are equipping students with the knowledge and skills to engage in meaningful debate and defend the principles that define our country.”

Philanthropists and educators alike highlighted the value of debate. Patricia Duggan, a key supporter, noted, “Debate teaches students how to think critically, communicate their ideas clearly and how to respectfully engage with others who have differing perspectives.”

Key Highlights and Winners

The championship featured 11 categories, underscoring the importance of civic discourse. The prestigious Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate emphasized respectful and principled debate, with Gavyn Purvis emerging as the champion, earning a $50,000 scholarship and a trophy named after Charlie Kirk.

Champion: Gavyn Purvis

Runner-Up: Harrison Shirey — $25,000 scholarship

Semifinalists: Nikhil Daniel and Sahiti Reddy — $15,000 each

Quarterfinalists: Samantha Westerdale, Luke DiPersio, David Arutyunyan, Daniel Llobet — $10,000 each

Middle school winners were also celebrated, with Aadya Marru taking the top spot and Cooper Campen as runner-up.

Expanding Education Through Debate

Jennifer Canady, Chair of the Florida House Education & Employment Committee, emphasized the initiative’s broader goals: “Florida’s Civics and Debate Initiative is not just preparing students to win championships—it’s preparing them to lead.”

With a generous pledge from Patricia Duggan and matching funds from the Florida Prepaid College Foundation, scholarships will continue to support students over the next decade, doubling the impact.

Additional category winners included:

High School Extemporaneous Debate Champion: Anthony Safar

Middle School Extemporaneous Debate Champion: Andrew Le

High School Extemporaneous Speaking Champion: Sritha Gaddam

Middle School Extemporaneous Speaking Champion: Emerson Blue

High School and Middle School champions were also named in Legislative Debate, Public Forum Debate, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Original Oratory, Declamation Speaking, Informative Speaking, and We the People categories.

Participants qualified for the championship by excelling at regional competitions, showcasing their skills in debate, public speaking, and civic knowledge. This year, 2,983 competitors, including homeschool families, participated statewide, supported by 1,445 volunteer judges.

Since its inception in 2020, the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative has grown remarkably, now encompassing over 330 teams across all districts. This growth reflects a robust commitment to civics education and student engagement. More details are available at www.civicsanddebate.com/.