With six students qualified for the NFA National Debate tournament in April, it should be no surprise that the Sterling College Debate team brought home multiple awards from the Gorlok Gala at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri. More than 50 schools competed with over 500 individual competitors, but Sterling College Junior Cody Campbell of Buckeye, Arizona, defeated students from schools such as Hillsdale College, McKendree University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Truman State University to take home the title of novice division tournament champion and top speaker in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

“Winning the tournament shows that the hard work my team has put into research, preparation and practice pays real dividends,” said Campbell.

Sterling College Freshman Kalina Garfolo of Wichita, Kansas, took top speaker and fifth place in JV Lincoln-Douglas debate and second speaker in junior varsity parliamentary debate.

Senior Brandon Hoesli of Salina, Kansas, was seventh speaker in varsity parliamentary debate and 14^th speaker in varsity Lincoln-Douglas debate.

“Taking into account the number of competitors, these are considerable accomplishments which bode well for nationals. We have a lot of work to do before April, but the team is dedicated to preparing for the competition,” said Ken Troyer, director of the Sterling College Debate team.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.