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DSHS Debater is Fourth in State
Dripping Springs High School junior Max Bibeau earned a fourth-place medal at the 2018 UIL State Congressional Debate Championship.
Both Max and teammate Griffen Smith qualified for the state tournament based on their top-three regional finish in the fall. A total of 54 students from 5A schools qualified statewide.
Competitive student congress debate events mimic real-life legislative assemblies and presents its participants with an insight into the issues and problems and policies that actually confront our lawmakers. Students must not only find data to support or negate a piece of legislation, but also must understand parliamentary rules and the application of those rules within the legislative body. Students are evaluated for the research and analysis of issues, argumentation, skill in asking and answering questions, use of parliamentary procedure, as well as clarity and fluency of speaking.
The preliminary round held on Tuesday, Jan. 9. at the University of Texas consisted of six hours of debating. The top six students from each of three prelim chambers advanced to the final round; Max was one of the 18 students who advanced. Finals were held on Wednesday, Jan. 10, at the Texas State Capitol Building. The students debated for nearly seven hours on topics including prison privatization, net neutrality, opioid addiction, Venezuelan sanctions, immigration, and airport security.