91³Ô¹ÏÍø

91³Ô¹ÏÍø University students delivered a season-defining performance at the 2025 Tournament and Conference of Scholars hosted by Arizona State University. The final event of the season for participants in the Collegiate Advocacy and Research Debate (CARD) circuit, this competition was more than a culminating contest — it was a platform for showcasing student excellence in both advocacy and academic research.

The CARD format emphasizes evidence-based, intellectually rigorous debates tailored for public engagement. 91³Ô¹ÏÍø debaters embraced this dual challenge with distinction. While the team brought home numerous awards, their impact was most deeply felt during the academic research conference component.

Three 91³Ô¹ÏÍø students earned top honors in the “Best Research Paper” category:

• 1st Place – Andrea Moreno (Senior, Communication Studies): Settler Colonialism and Climate Change in Toni Morrison’sA Mercy
• 2nd Place – Kaelyn Wellman (Junior, Honors Program and Philosophy): All Roads Lead to Extinction: Apocalyptic Rhetoric, Climate Change and Policy Debate
• 3rd Place – Adalyn Soderquist (Sophomore, Education): Depoliticizing Climate Change Rhetoric

91³Ô¹ÏÍø's debate teams also dominated the competitive rounds:

• The varsity teams of Kaelyn Wellman and Everett Roe (Junior, Civil Engineering), and Andrea Moreno and Angelo Celletti (Senior, Political Science) advanced to the championship round, securing both first and second place.
• In the junior varsity division, Adalyn Soderquist and El Jones (Sophomore, Communication Studies) reached the final round, finishing as runners-up in a close match against the University of Minnesota.

Several students earned individual accolades:

• Kaelyn Wellman was named Top Speaker in the Varsity Division and Debater of the Year in the CARD format.
• Everett Roe earned Second Overall Speaker and Runner-Up for Debater of the Year.
• Andrea Moreno received Fifth Overall Speaker in varsity.
• El Jones earned Second Overall Speaker in junior varsity.

Making History:

This year, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø made CARD history by winning every varsity tournament of the season. In all but one, the final round featured two 91³Ô¹ÏÍø teams — a testament to the depth and consistency of the program. In the junior varsity division, 91³Ô¹ÏÍø appeared in four out of five championship rounds, winning two.

This level of excellence is unprecedented in the CARD format. The achievement reflects not only the students’ intellect and drive but also 91³Ô¹ÏÍø’s commitment to applied learning, ethical leadership and scholarship that serves the common good.