For two Chicago Public Schools students, preparing for this year's national debate competition came with extra pressure—their school was defending its national title.After months of research, writing, and refining their arguments, Amanti Washington and Kate'lynn Shaw of Kenwood Academy can finally exhale. The duo was recently crowned champions of the 2025 Urban Debate National Championship, successfully defending Kenwood's top spot at the national competition for the second year in a row.

Washington and Shaw weren't the only Chicago Public Schools students to receive national honors. Ángel Tierrablanca and Wendy Depaz of Back of the Yards College Preparatory High School made history by becoming the first-ever Debate en Español competition champions—marking a historic sweep for Chicago debaters at this year's tournament.

Formed in 2004 to address gaps in debate resources nationally, the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues (NAUDL) hosted the three-day tournament in Atlanta. NAUDL consists of 20 leagues that operate exclusively in metropolitan areas, with local leagues working alongside school boards and urban school districts to host tournaments and expand debate access.

This year’s tournament featured 37 teams from 19 leagues across the country and focused on policy debate, with students arguing whether the U.S. government should strengthen protections for intellectual property rights.

In the finals, Kenwood Academy faced a school from Portland, Ore. Washington and Shaw centered their arguments on the intersection of racial equity and intellectual property rights, emphasizing safety and inclusion for Black communities.

Both students received $5,000 for their victory. Shaw was named the tournament's top speaker, while Washington placed sixth. Each earned a full-ride college debate scholarship.

Shaw will attend the University of Kansas in the fall, and Washington will head to the University of Kentucky — marking the first time Kenwood students have received college debate scholarships."We worked extremely hard," Washington said in an interview with the Hyde Park Herald. "We've been writing new files, reading lots of new books, and constantly getting basically destroyed by random college debaters over and over again until we got our stuff together to perform at the best level."

Shaw, a two-year team member and six-year class president at Kenwood Academy, also served as the Chicago Board of Education student representative last year. Washington has been on the debate team for six years and was part of the winning team at last year's tournament.

Chicago Teacher Named Debate Coach of the Year

Also receiving accolades was Charles Rosentel, longtime debate coach at Chicago’s Pritzker College Prep, who was recently named Debate Coach of the Year by the NAUDL.

Each league is asked to nominate one coach for NAUDL’s annual Coach of the Year award, which recognizes teachers who help students “become more academically successful and civically engaged through the support and rigor of debate.”

The National Association for Urban Debate Leagues presented the award at Northwestern University, honoring Rosentel’s dedication to helping students grow academically and civically — especially those from diverse backgrounds.

This achievement marked a milestone, as it was the first time any city has had a second coach win the Coach of the Year award.

For Rosentel, the recognition was a full-circle moment — not only because Northwestern University is his alma mater, but also because of his lifelong passion for debate.

He began coaching 18 years ago at Farragut Career Academy, later moving to The Collins Academy High School, and eventually to Pritzker, where he’s spent the past 13 years.

Over the years, Rosentel has seen shy students become confident leaders. One former captain graduated from the University of Illinois and now works with Latino immigrants. Others have gone on to top schools like Stanford and Pomona or found their voices in community work.

“Watching students transform from shy, introverted individuals to confident speakers has been the most rewarding part of my journey,” Rosentel said in a news release.

He credits debate with equipping students with skills that extend far beyond high school.