This Giving Tuesday, we are celebrating something special: 15 years of academic debate access in NYC public schools. Join us from now until our annual Champions of Debate Gala on June 10 in reflecting back and looking forward.
We are kicking off the celebration with 15 Years, 15 Voices, a video series sharing memories and stories from members of our debate community.
Our first voice is Katherine Hernandez.
Katherine has truly grown up with the league. She started debating with us in middle school, and when she got to high school, she started a team so she could keep debating. Since then, she has done just about everything a student debater can do at NYCUDL. She was a member of our inaugural NYCUDL/Wake Forest Dream Team, served as a Summer Leader and a Youth Leader, teaches with our Adolescent Literacy program in Queens, and was the student speaker at our 2026 Champions of Debate Gala.
Every year, NYCUDL creates opportunities like these for more than 4,000 NYC public school students.
You can help the next generation of debaters by supporting our programs on Giving Tuesday, December 1st. Thank you for 15 years of believing in our students!