Matthew Harris Ornstein Washington Summer Debate Institute
The Matthew Harris Ornstein Washington Summer Debate Institute is hosted each year by the Washington Urban Debate League in partnership with the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation (MHOMF). The Institute provides a rigorous but fun debate experience that will prepare debaters for the coming competitive season and beyond.
The summer institute is named in honor of Matthew Harris Ornstein, a former debater who found his voice, self-confidence, and a home in the debate community. The Matthew Harris Ornstein Outstanding Debater award is given in his honor to the student who best reflects Matthew’s values.
Labs for All Experience Levels
We will offer 5 different levels of classes (labs) to ensure that every student is appropriately challenged
Find your intellectual community and make new friends who share your interests this summer at the Matthew Harris Ornstein Washington Summer Debate Institute. Whether students are on their feet developing arguments and finding their voice or listening to the voices that research and make policy around the issues we debate about, the summer institute is great fun. We also host a College Fair to help students begin their search and make connections to scholarship opportunities from debate. Students will walk away from camp ready to compete, having learned more about themselves and the world around them, and with some great swag!
“Novice” labs will provide an exciting challenge for those new to competitive debate.
“Junior Varsity” labs are for those who have been to the summer institute before, and/or have competed during the regular season.
“Varsity” labs are for returning debaters looking to sharpen their research skills, go over advanced forms of argumentation, and provide lots of hands-on practice to hone their skills in preparation for regional competition.
Instructors know how to teach, not just brag about their own competitive skills, and many are alumni of the program. We pride ourselves on a low student to faculty ratio throughout the program to ensure that each student receives an engaged institute experience. Breakout sessions in small lab groups are designed for students to expand their intellectual horizons.
The Institute has a proven track record of improving debater’s skills. Many of the most competitively successful students in WUDL attended the summer institute. Participation makes the jump from Novice to JV, or from JV to Varsity easy, and can help students prepare for regional travel.