News
Coverage of the Portland Urban Debate League
East County students develop their voice through speech and debate
Gresham Outlook, December 28, 2022
Leading the Centennial High School speech and debate team is Mallory Copeland, who is also the executive director of the Portland Urban Debate League, which the team is a part of. … The Centennial team is a strong example of the connections that can be made in a speech and debate team.
Junior Brian Moua joined speech and debate just because he wanted to challenge himself entering high school, but he got so much more than just a challenge.
“It really felt like it has helped me go beyond my limits,” Moua said. “I have met new people and learned new skills for interviews. And generally, I think it just transforms you and forces you to become more open-minded and perceptive.”
Portland Urban Debate League Wants Teams at Every High School
Oregon Public Broadcasting, April 4, 2022
If there’s one thing Americans can agree on, it’s that the country is sharply divided. But supporters of debate teams in public schools say the activity could actually increase the chances of opposing sides working together. … Lesly Valdivia-Marquez is a senior at McDaniel High School and a competitive debater. She and Copeland join us to tell us more about what they love about debate, and why they think it should be available at every high school.
Reynolds High School Students Excel Through Portland Urban Debate League, Qualify for State Championship Debate Tournament
Reynolds School District, April 15, 2021
Two Reynolds High School students, Destiny Tran and Jeff Cervantes Mendoza, placed first at the Oregon Student Activities Association district debate tournament and will represent the region at the state championship tournament on April 22-24. After several years of dormancy, Reynold’s debate program was restarted in the 2019-2020 school year through a partnership with a local nonprofit, Portland Urban Debate League.