Daniel Gaskell

The developer of the free Factsmith research software, Daniel debated in the NCFCA and Stoa for six years. With Alex Macdonald, he was a finalist in Team Policy debate at the largest NCFCA qualifier of the 2009-2010 season, the Houston Warm-Up, and qualified to the NCFCA National Championship in four events, including Team Policy and Extemporaneous. The following year he was a finalist at the Houston National Open, qualifying to nationals with his sister. He is currently attending Baylor University.

Jacob Phillip

Jacob Phillip is a six-year speech and debate alumnus. Jacob qualified to the NCFCA and Stoa National Championships six times in six different events - placing in numerous speeches at both - and received around 100 titles on the regional level. Jacob’s Team Policy experience included taking 3rd at the Texas State Championship and the Grand Prairie Regional Qualifier in 2012. In addition, Jacob was the speaking champion at the Houston Qualifier and took 2nd at the Washington National Open. Outside of speech and debate, Jacob has taken many top honors in Moot Court (Duke University Essay Contest Winner), Mock Trial (Two-time Regional Champion, “Best Advocate” Award), and Model United Nations (“Best Delegate” Colleyville MUN and San Antonio MUN, multiple “Distinguished” and “Honorable” Delegate Awards). He is currently an intern at the Lanier Law Firm in Houston, and he plans to get his degree in International Relations.

Joshua Rooney

Josh is going into his senior year in high school and his fourth year of debate. As an avid sports guy living in Tennessee, he didn’t really take debate seriously during environmental year, but broke at all three qualifiers he attended anyway. In his second year Josh "fell in love" with debate and turned into the nerd he was once scared of. Josh won two qualifiers, took second at the Region 7 Invitational, 21st at nationals, and went 27 – 2 with his intensely researched aff case. (All with his awesome partner, of course.)

Alex Macdonald

With Daniel Gaskell, Alex was a finalist in Team Policy debate at the largest NCFCA qualifier of the 2009-2010 season, the Houston Warm-Up, later qualifying to the NCFCA National Championship. A skilled researcher and avid brief-trader, Alex somehow managed to pack thousands of pages of evidence into a single small box, a feat which still baffles his partner. He is currently studying at the University of Dallas and interning at the Heritage Foundation.

Parker Kerstell

Parker is entering his senior year in high school and fifth year of speech and debate. While NCFCA is a large part of his high school activities, he enjoys playing nearly every sport and is also a passionate musician. He has qualified for and competed at the NCFCA National Championship in Duo Interpretation once and Team Policy debate twice, with his twin brother Jeremy. This past year, he was a semifinalist at the Illinois National Open, won the Regional Qualifier in Cleveland, Tennessee, received the At-Large slot in policy debate after placing fifth at the Region 7 Invitational, and obtained several speaker awards.

Joanna Paul

Joanna is entering her junior year of high school and has been debating in NCFCA since age 12. In the past two years, she has developed a love for research. It is said that it takes 10,000 hours to master a subject, so Joanna is excited about getting slightly closer to that goal this year. :-) Last year, she was blessed to be able to break at NCFCA nationals with her awesome partner, Grayson Logue. When she isn't working on speech and debate, Joanna enjoys reading just about anything, hanging out with her little brothers (and biggest fans), and studying human anatomy.

Caleb Smith

Caleb participated in debate in Region 4 for five years. A three-time debate finalist, he qualified to Nationals in 2010 after placing second at Region 4 Regionals. Outside of debate, Caleb enjoys playing strategy board games, juggling, origami, playing the bodhran, and just having a good time.

Joseph Hughey

Now an NCFCA alumnus, Joseph Hughey debated in Region Nine for four years, and has been involved in NCFCA ever since he was twelve years old. A three-time nationally qualified speaker (DI, 2010, 2011; HI, Open, 2012), and regionally qualified debater (2011), Joseph thoroughly enjoys debating and researching, and has received numerous speech and debate awards. Joseph, with his partner Hannah Bass, broke to quarterfinals twice and octa-finals once at the regional level. Apart from debate, Joseph enjoys listening to a wide variety of music, watching and reviewing movies, writing short fiction, and photography.

Anthony Severin

After a successful four year of policy debate career in the NCFCA (including a 6-0 record and 5th place finish at the 2011 Texas Open and winning the final elimination round at the 2011 Frisco Practice Tournament), Anthony founded WhyDebate and began teaching debate workshops over Skype and coaching debaters across the country - some of whom received awards at both the regional and national level. He currently studies economics and political science at Baylor University.

Will King

Will is a high school junior and is in his third year of team policy debate, competing in NCFCA Region 9. He broke at regionals his novice year and qualified to nationals his second year, with partners Jes Bardsley and Ryan Dovel, respectively. Apart from debate, Will enjoys playing basketball, reading good books, hanging out with friends, and sleeping.

Anna Bode

Coming soon...