Winners of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship Recognized

April 21, 2026

FDOE Press Office 850-245-0413 [email protected]

Winners of the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship Recognized

Gavyn Purvis named Champion of the Ronald Reagan Debate, received a $50,000 scholarship and trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk.

Commissioner Kamoutsas with Philanthropist Patricia Duggan and Representative Jennifer Canady, strong supporters of civics and debate.

Commissioner Kamoutsas speaking to the attendees and participants of the 2026 Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship.

Sarasota, Fla., April 21, 2026 - Florida's top student debaters competed at the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship at New College of Florida and State College of Florida. This year's championship brought together a record 748 middle and high school students, nearly doubling participation from 434 students in 2025. This year's attendance and the level of competition displayed by students underscore Florida's continued leadership in civics education.

"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," said Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas. "The students competing in this year's championship have demonstrated excellence in civic knowledge, critical thinking and communication. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate reflects the importance of respectful discourse and the ability to engage thoughtfully on complex issues. Skills that are essential for the next generation of leaders."

"Florida's Civics and Debate Initiative is not just preparing students to win championships-it's preparing them to lead," said Florida House of Representatives Education & Employment Committee Chair Jennifer Canady. "Through debate, these students are learning how to think clearly, speak confidently, and engage respectfully in the ideas that shape our future."

"Students who learn to argue both sides of a question, and do so well, develop something most students never learn: the ability to think under pressure and lead through disagreement," said Richard Corcoran, president of New College of Florida. "New College was honored to host the FCDI debate tournament. Study after study shows that training in debate and civic discourse is linked to stronger academic performance, higher graduation rates and more effective leadership. That foundation is core to who we are."

"Debate teaches students how to think critically, communicate their ideas clearly and how to respectfully engage with others who have differing perspectives," said Philanthropist Patricia Duggan. "I am honored to have been able to support students as they gain these valuable skills while participating in this year's championship."

The FCDI State Championship featured competitions across 11 speech and debate categories, highlighting students' ability to engage in civil discourse and defend ideas grounded in the principles of American government. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate placed special emphasis on respectful, principled debate and the ability to articulate ideas with clarity and conviction.

The winners of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate are:

• Champion: Gavyn Purvis - $50,000 scholarship and trophy in honor of Charlie Kirk
• Runner-Up: Harrison Shirey - $25,000 scholarship
• Semifinalists: $15,000 scholarship each
  • Nikhil Daniel
  • Sahiti Reddy
• Quarterfinalists: $10,000 scholarship each
  • Samantha Westerdale
  • Luke DiPersio
  • David Arutyunyan
  • Daniel Llobet

The middle school winners of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate are:

• Champion: Aadya Marru
• Runner-Up: Cooper Campen

The scholarships were established thanks to a generous gift from philanthropist Patricia Duggan of Clearwater, who has pledged to sustain this meaningful support over the next ten years. In addition, the Florida Prepaid College Foundation matched the funds, doubling the benefit for recipients.

Additional winners across FCDI categories include:

• 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 Legislative Debate Champion: Fiona Willits
• Middle School Legislative Debate Champion: Sasha Qu Yan
• High School Public Forum Debate Champions: Rachel Manucy and Chensley Dosio
• Middle School Public Forum Debate Champions: August Makan and Olivia McGee
• High Lincoln-Douglas Debate Champion: Kamilla Sanchez
• Middle School Lincoln-Douglas Debate Champion: Keerthana Ramkumar
• High School Impromptu Speaking Champion: Ada Oberle
• Middle School Impromptu Speaking Champion: Julia Newman
• High School Original Oratory Champion: Akshara Ramaswamy
• Middle School Original Oratory Champion: Maahi Ailawadhi
• High School Declamation Speaking Champion: Martina Polcino
• Middle School Declamation Speaking Champion: Hannah Goodman
• High School Informative Speaking Champion: Isaac Caccam
• Middle School Informative Speaking Champion: Chloe Allen
• High School We the People Champion: Ryan Ean Smith
• Middle School We the People Champion: Dexter Tas

To qualify for the State Championship, students were required to place at a regional or qualifier tournament, competing against peers from across the state. These top-performing students advanced to the championship to demonstrate excellence in debate, public speaking and civic knowledge.

This year's FCDI participation demonstrated significant statewide engagement:

• 2,983 total competitors, including homeschool families, participated in all tournaments
• 1,445 volunteer judges supporting competitions

Since 2020, FCDI has expanded from 59 teams in 11 districts to more than 330 teams in every school district statewide, reflecting Florida's commitment to strengthening civics education and student engagement. Additional information about FCDI is available at www.civicsanddebate.com/. Read More News...