MBA+Debate+History

The Debate and Forensic Program at MBA is one of the oldest and most well respected programs in the nation. Tournament travel offers MBA students the chance to meet and interact with students from other schools all over the country.

Learning how to handle problems as they occur offers students valuable life lessons that they enjoy. Seniors usually develop close friendships with students outside of their daily school environment, and many of those friendships last a lifetime. The competitive challenges and close cooperation with teammates keep our students excited and active.

"The best part of the debate experience is that you are having so much fun, you forget how much you're learning."

Debaters from MBA have claimed championships at most of the major national speech and debate tournaments, including: Emory University, Wake Forest University, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, Samford University, University of Alabama, the Glenbrooks of Chicago, and many others. In 1999, MBA claimed a national championship at the Tournament of Champions in Lexington, KY. Most recently, two MBA teams placed in the top sixteen teams in the nation at the 2004 TOC. Also in 2004, MBA debaters placed 12th and 14th at the National Forensic Leagues National Tournament, held in Salt Lake City, UT.

MBA debate is guided by four full time teachers and coaches, and three MBA debate coaches have earned Keys to the Barkley Forum in Atlanta, the nation's foremost honorary society for high school debate coaches.The program's director is Mr. Billy Tate. Ms. Nicole Serrano is the Head Varsity Coach, and she is assisted by Mr. Michael Risen and Mr. Alan Coverstone. Mr. Samuel Lester guides and directs the novice debate program for first-year participants, and he is assisted by Jake Nelson.