Support a low-income debater attend debate camp

Hi everyone! My name is Daniel Medina. I am 17 years old and I am a junior at Huntington Park High School involved in the HPHS Debate Team, where we compete in policy debate through the Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL).

I started with debate last year and it has helped me become more confident to not only ask questions but to also make arguments. Debate has changed the way I go about my daily life by being able to read critical college-level literature and to analyze the world around me, all of which has equipped me with skills to become more successful.

Over the last year in debate, I have challenged myself to move up the different levels. I have been slowly making my way up the ranks this season trying to give my school more recognition and accolades. My debate partner and I went as far as becoming the 2nd alternate team to represent Los Angeles schools in the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) competition.

I am looking forward to another year of debate next year, and in an effort to be as prepared as I can be, I am interested in attending the debate summer camp at Wake Forest University known as RKS (Ross K. Smith). These donations will not just be going towards camp, it will also be going towards plane tickets front and back as well as food and money for laundry. Attending this camp would give me the opportunity to go and make connections, to explore a college campus, and to learn from extremely experienced debaters. This trip would be the opportunity I need to build my debate skills, which would not only prepare me for college but also help me to bring debate recognition to my school, where a majority of students are students of color from a low-income, immigrant, and working class background. All of this will put me on a path to be able to have a high chance at attending a top college and to access merit-based debate scholarships. Any donations to make RKS a reality for me are appreciated. Thank you!