A senior at Tampa Prep wins the highest honor for a high school debater at a tournament in Kentucky.
By ELISABETH DYER
Published May 16, 2003
DOWNTOWN - A Tampa Prep senior has been named the country's dean of debate.
Noah Chestnut, 18, was recognized for his skills at the nationwide Tournament of Champions Debate, May 3-4 at the University of Kentucky.
He received the highest honor for a high school debater, the Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence in National High School Policy Debate.
The award memorializes Julia Burke, a debate student from California who died in an automobile accident in 1998.
Besides recognizing debate skills, the annual award honors student who are committed to helping others and who maintain friendly relationships, despite the pressures of debate competition.
"I am a happy, jovial person," Chestnut said.
Coaches from opposing teams nominated Chestnut and voted him the winner. His skill at debating comes from years of practice. In speed drills, he debates at 80 words a minute.
He spends his free time researching and reading about the debate topic, which this year was mental health care.
It was hard reading at first, he said, but will help him in college.
Chestnut, who lives in Culbreath Isles, is working as an intern at the law office of his debate coach, John Rains.
"He's a great motivator," he said of his coach.
This fall, Noah heads to Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., where he plans to major in political science, philosophy or history.
As part of the award, he won a $1,000 college scholarship and $1,000 to donate to a charity of his choice. He chose the Chicago Urban Debate League.
