FINAL ROUND JUDGE INTRODUCTIONS

Dr. Ravi Paul is an NCFCA parent, serves on the NCFCA Board and is the Chair of the Debate Committee. Dr. Paul is a professor and department Chair in the College of Business at East Carolina University.

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: “Good debate is a clash of arguments, not just claims and counter-claims. Arguments are claims with warrants (or evidence) that support the claim and have an impact that addresses the “so what” question. Thus, I want to hear arguments debated today and not just empty claims. Your arguments need to be supported with credible warrants (evidence) with the appropriate citations provided. And, you should explain why your well-developed arguments matter in the round. Finally, I want to see a clash with the highest integrity levels displayed while debating with grace.”

Isaac Sommers
is an NCFCA Alumnus, J.D. Candidate at Harvard Law School and the Founder and Director of Ziggy Online Debate. Isaac graduated from Howard Payne University with a B.A. in Public Policy and Civic Leadership, a B.A. in Social Sciences with an emphasis in Jurisprudence, and a minor in English

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: “Impacts are the things that matter most to me. Most debaters fail to properly impact an argument and tell me why it matters, and instead assume that I agree with them why it matters instead of explaining how. Remember that you have spent almost a year studying this topic inside and out—the answers are going to seem more natural and intuitive to you than to any of your judges. Don't leave us behind in the thought process. As an example, don't just say "the constitution will be violated" and assume I agree that's bad. Explain WHY it is bad by telling me the practical consequences that will result if we violate the constitution (or some treaty) and that becomes the norm. If you don't clearly tell me what issues are most important and why, I may have to figure that out on my own, which may not necessarily be in your favor. If you make my job easier, it'll make it easier for me to vote for you.”

Aaron Kamakawiwoole
is an NCFCA Region 1 LD Champion (2006) who did both Team Policy (2001-2005) and Lincoln-Douglas (2005-2006) debate in high school. He also competed in a high school secular league that allowed him to argue the unconstitutionality of Roe v. Wade before a member of the Hawaii Supreme Court. In college Aaron was part of both the PHC Team Value team and AMCA Moot Court team, which he captained during his senior year. 

Since graduating from PHC in 2011, Aaron has coached moot court teams and judged almost 100 rounds as part of the Office of Admissions at Patrick Henry College. Aaron currently serves as coach for PHC's Civic Debate program. In his spare time Aaron loves hiking, strategy gaming, reading, anything involving a power drill, and movie nights with his wife.
 

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: “I am a stock issues judge-- not because of any adherence to debate theory, but because stock issues provide a logical framework for effective problem solving. I am listening for well supported arguments. Potent persuasion impacts back to a unifying thesis.”

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: I "judge on the flow" and specifically want to see teams actually interacting with and responding to their opponents’ arguments rather than talking past each other.”

Mr. Joel Erickson is an NCFCA alumnus and won multiple tournaments and qualified to nationals in parliamentary debate, mock trial, and moot court. He is a coach with five years of experience mentoring high school debaters. After graduating from Wheaton College with his degree in philosophy, he works for a small marketing agency, coaches Wheaton’s debate team, and serves on the NCFCA Debate Committee.

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: The more impacting, the better—explain the round like you’re writing my RFD!

Ms. Rebecca Frazer is an NCFCA Alumna Rebecca and a 4-time NCFCA hall-of-famer, competing at nationals in both Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas debate and winning the NCFCA national championships in team policy debate and persuasive speaking. She has coached various forms of speech and debate for 8 years. She holds a bachelor's degree in communication and political science, and a masters in public administration from The Ohio State University. She's currently a PhD candidate and undergraduate instructor in communication at Ohio State.

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: “In judging debate, Rebecca looks for clear argumentation, strong support for claims, and accurate representation of the opposing side's arguments. She wishes the competitors the best of luck and congratulates them on the achievement of reaching the national finals!”

Mr. Matthew Meyers is a rising sophomore at Yale University, where he is studying political science and statistics. He is the logistics director of Yale Undergraduate Moot Court, and last spring, he was the director of the inaugural Yale Moot Court Tournament for high school students.

JUDGING PHILOSOPHY: “I look for debaters who present unique arguments and consistently engage with the points of the other side. I hope to hear ideas that I hadn't thought of before and to see arguments that could not have been made if not for the other side raising the point.”

Dr. Janet Sommers is Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of Northwestern in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Sommers earned a bachelor’s degree in English education from Gwynedd-Mercy College, a master’s degree in English from the University of Toledo, and a doctoral degree in English from the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Michael Farris is president and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom. He was the founding president of both the Home School Legal Defense Association and Patrick Henry College and continues to serve as chairman of the board of HSLDA and chancellor emeritus of PHC. Mr. Farris graduated from Western Washington State College magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science, followed by a Juris Doctor from Gonzaga University (with honors). He also earned an LL.M. in public international law (with honors) from the University of London.

Mr. Stephen Carney is a Deputy Solicitor General in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Appeals Unit of the Solicitor General’s Section and former Ohio Attorney General. Mr. Carney is a graduate of Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Mr. Peter Kamakawiwoole is an NCFCA Alumnus, a current Staff Attorney with the Home School Legal Defense Association and head coach of the Undergraduate Moot Court Program at Patrick Henry College. He graduated from Patrick Henry College with a B.A in Government, followed by a Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University’s School of Law.

Mr. Stephen Carney is a Deputy Solicitor General in the Ohio Attorney General’s Office in the Appeals Unit of the Solicitor General’s Section and former Ohio Attorney General. Mr. Carney is a graduate of Xavier University and the University of Cincinnati College of Law.

Justice Elizabeth McClanahan is a former Justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia. She received an undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and her J.D. degree from the University of Dayton. McClanahan has served as the Williamson Fellow at the College of William and Mary Law School and taught at the Wake Forest School of Business and Accountancy. She has chaired the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia and has also served on the Board of Visitors for the College of William and Mary as vice-rector and the Board of Trustees for Emory & Henry College. She currently serves as CEO of the Virginia Tech Foundation.

Mr. Alexander Hayes is an NCFCA Alumnus and Deputy District Attorney at Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office in Oregon City, Oregon. He graduated from Warner Pacific University with a B.A. in American Studies followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Idaho College of Law.