IMMOKALEE — On Saturday, April 5, two students from LaBelle High School (LHS) and one student from Moore Haven Middle-High School (MHMHS) earned their places at the Incubate Debate National Championship at Immokalee High School, after competing at the National Qualifier tournament.

Students, Priscilla Rodriguez and Julia Gonzalez from LHS and Liam Dufrene from MHMHS, rose to the challenge throughout the year, debating fiercely and thoughtfully on some of the most pressing issues facing America today.

At the qualifier, they engaged in rigorous, high-level debates on the following topics:

• Is the Trump Administration right to oppose birthright citizenship for unauthorized immigrants?
• Should the U.S. federal government pursue mass deportations?
• Should the United States leave NATO?

These debaters, coached by Seth Jewett, of LaBelle, will travel to New College of Florida in Sarasota to compete in the National Championship from May 30 – June 1. There, they will join a selective group of student competitors from across the country, all vying for the national title.

Incubate Debate has previously hosted conversations with national figures such as former NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio and 2024 Presidential Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and this year’s championship promises to be just as exciting.