The Michigan State University debate team of Kaavya Ramesh and Evan Hebert has been awarded a first round at-large bid to the 67th National Debate Tournament 2013, to be held at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, March 28 – April 1.
Ramesh, a graduate of Chattahoochee High School in Alpharetta, Ga., is a junior Honors College member triple-majoring in international relations and comparative cultures and politics in the James Madison College and Chinese in the College of Arts and Letters. Hebert, a graduate of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, is a sophomore majoring in international relations in the James Madison College.
"The bid is a team accomplishment. It reflects the hard work of all of our students and coaches and the season-long dedication they have made to competitive excellence,” said Casey Harrigan, director of debate.
Recognizing MSU as one of the top 16 two-person debate teams in the country, receiving a “first round” is widely regarded as the mark of competitive excellence for any debate team. Voted on by coaches around the country, the bid automatically qualifies the team for the NDT. No more than two teams per school can receive such bids.
“Since debate’s move to status as an MSU team (from “club”) in 1997, it has received 19 first round at-large bids to the NDT,” said Harrigan. “In those 17 years, MSU has advanced a team to the elimination rounds of the NDT in every one, clearing 25 teams in all.”
Other schools receiving bids this year are University of Michigan, Emporia State University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, University of Mary Washington, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, University of Oklahoma, Wake Forest University and University of West Georgia.