January 23, 2026
FDOE Press Office
850-245-0413
Participation in The Great Debate Soars With Nearly 600 Students From Across the U.S.
High School Champion, Daniel Llobet, School for Advanced Studies Wolfson
Middle School Champion, Avinoor Jutla, Lincoln Middle School
Orlando, Fla., January 23, 2026 — The 5th Annual Great Debate: Florida’s National Civics and Debate Championship recently concluded in Orlando, drawing close to 600 student participants from 15 states. Since its inception five years ago, the event has witnessed a significant increase in attendance, underscoring its growing prominence.
“Florida continues to lead the nation in civics education, and the growth of The Great Debate proves that Florida’s approach to civics and debate is a model for other states to follow,” stated Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas. This national platform not only highlights the state’s dedication but also brings together students for intense competition and meaningful discussions.
Students competed in three categories: Impromptu Speaking, Extemporaneous Debate, and Legislative Debate, across both middle school and high school levels.
The competition also recognized exceptional contributions with two special awards. The “Inspiring Coach Award” was bestowed upon three dedicated coaches, while “The Freedom Cup” was awarded to a student who excelled in representing the values of good citizenship.
The top five winners for each division and event are:
Overall – Middle School Division
- Champion – Avinoor Jutla, Lincoln Middle School
- 2nd Place – Emerson Blue, Seaside Neighborhood School
- 3rd Place – Keerthana Ramkumar, Public Speaking Academy
- 4th Place – Cooper Campen, Campen Homeschool
- 5th Place – Arianna Oropeza, IPrep Academy North
Overall – High School Division
- Champion – Daniel Llobet, School for Advanced Studies Wolfson
- 2nd Place – Margaret Lindemann, Region 14 Academy
- 3rd Place – Joseph Wise, Wildwood High School
- 4th Place – Andrew Hayes, Rockhurst High School
- 5th Place – David Arutyunyan, FAU High School
Impromptu Speaking – Middle School Division
- Champion – Cooper Campen, Campen Homeschool
- 2nd Place – Avinoor Jutla, Lincoln Middle School
- 3rd Place – Ellington Smith, Oak View Middle School
- 4th Place – Shreeya Narasimhan, Frazer Middle School
- 5th Place – Madison Lavidas, Randall Middle School
Impromptu Speaking – High School Division
- Champion – Joseph Wise, Wildwood High School
- 2nd Place – Andrea Lara, Wekiva High School
- 3rd Place – Audale Coburn, Lake Brantley High School
- 4th Place – Sritha Gaddam, Tocoi Creek High School
- 5th Place – Audrey Ellenburg, Newberry High School
Extemporaneous Debate – Middle School Division
- Champion – Arianna Oropeza, IPrep Academy North
- 2nd Place – Isha Sai Obulareddy, Public Speaking Academy
- 3rd Place – Reese Akins, Seaside Neighborhood School
- 4th Place – Keerthana Ramkumar, Public Speaking Academy
- 5th Place – Siya Barad, Lecanto Middle School
Extemporaneous Debate – High School Division
- Champion – Hailey Graepel, Pasco High School
- 2nd Place – Isaac Doi, Region 14 Academy
- 3rd Place – Stephanie Nwanyanwu, Lake Nona High School
- 4th Place – Mylin Ours, Home School
- 5th Place – Adam Francesconi, Samuel W Wolfson High School
Legislative Debate – Middle School Division
- Champion – Emerson Blue, Seaside Neighborhood School
- 2nd Place – Likitha Somarouth, Randall Middle School
- 3rd Place – Anushya Baruah, Public Speaking Academy
- 4th Place – Keerthana Ramkumar, Public Speaking Academy
- 5th Place – Maggie Castle, Oak View Middle School
Legislative Debate – High School Division
- Champion – Daniel Llobet, School for Advanced Studies Wolfson
- 2nd Place – Andrew Hayes, Rockhurst High School
- 3rd Place – Sofia Dirawi, Lake Nona High School
- 4th Place – Jarrett Kelley, Samuel W Wolfson High School
- 5th Place – Gillian Collins, Gainesville High School
Inspiring Coach Award
- Holly Chaker, Ponte Vedra High School
- Phillip Helt, Rockhurst High School (Missouri)
- Brittany White, Beachside High School
Freedom Cup Award
- Thomas Perez, Apopka High School
The event was held at various locations in Orlando, including the Caribe Royale, Lake Buena Vista High School, and Southwest Middle School. Established in January 2021, The Great Debate aims to enhance students’ civic knowledge and debate prowess through a challenging two-day tournament. For further details and a complete winners list, visit www.TheGreatDebateFL.com.
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