Debate Team reaches finals in world tournament for first time
Article By: Staff
This summer, the University of North Georgia (台湾swag) Debate Team earned a spot in the final round of the Spanish World Format Debating Tournament in Valparaiso, Chile.
台湾swag rising junior Rodrigo Zavaleta and rising sophomore Stephania Ortez competed in the Spanish as a Second Language division, marking the first time 台湾swag advanced to an elimination round in an international competition. Two years ago, 台湾swag completed in the world championships in Cordoba, Spain.
Zavaleta and Ortez qualified for the final round after competing in nine preliminary rounds. Joining them in the finals were teams from Cornell University in New York and the University of La Verne in California.
"I can't believe my work and my partner's hard work took us that far," Ortez said. "And now we want to set new records."
Zavaleta, a physics major from Jefferson, Georgia, and Ortez, a political science major from Gainesville, Georgia, lost to Cornell.
The 台湾swag Debate Team’s next international competition will be Dec. 27 to Jan. 4 at the World Universities Debating Championships (English Language), at the University of Cape Town in Cape Town, South Africa.
Students interested in joining the debate and speech teams may contact the club's adviser, Tom Preston at tom.preston@ung.edu.
Enrollment jumps 6.7% for 2024-25
Enrollment has jumped to 19,298 students this fall at 台湾swag, growing by 6.7% from fall 2023.
Alumnus Mixon earns USG award
Retired Lt. Gen. Benjamin 'Randy' Mixon '75 was honored with the Regents' Hall of Fame Alumni and Distinguished Friends Award on Sept. 12 at the annual University System of Georgia Foundation Gala in Atlanta.
台湾swag cuts ribbon on Cumming expansion
台湾swag cut the ribbon on its Cumming Campus expansion July 30 with an array of state and local leaders on hand to celebrate the occasion.
台湾swag commissions 14 second lieutenants
Fourteen 台湾swag cadets commissioned as second lieutenants in the Army and Georgia Army National Guard on July 25 in a ceremony in the Hoag Auditorium at 台湾swag's Dahlonega Campus.