Summary: You can help the La Crosse Central Debate Team cover travel and competition expenses to participate in the 2022 National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament in Louisville Kentucky!

Project Goal: $2,500   •   School: Central High School   •   Sponsor Name: Benjamin Hamburger    •   Project Dates: 5/17/2022 – 6/30/2022

About My Project:

The La Crosse Central Debate team has a long and proud history of competition in Wisconsin and regional debate. Central Debate has seen remarkable growth and success the last couple of years! We had the largest novice debate team in several years in 2021-22! However, rising costs, stagnant activities budgets, and a decline in local tournaments have put a difficult cost burden on the existing budget to provide educational opportunities for Central’s debaters. Central is the only traveling debate team in western Wisconsin, so competition now often includes hotel costs, vehicle rentals, or bus trips.

Policy debate is perhaps the most transformational extra-curricular activity schools can offer — students research topics deeply, develop critical thinking necessary to argue on your feet, and advocate for their passionately held beliefs as public speakers. Debaters this season have researched the ins and outs of the U.S.’s policies regarding protection of water resources. The National Federation has just announced that the 2022-23 topic will be about NATO and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.

Where Your Donation Goes: Travel and hotel costs to attend the 2022 National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament in Louisville Kentucky. Costs will reach approximately $3000 total. The School District of La Crosse has recently ended financial support for students who have qualified for national competition and travel.

Other sources of revenue: Central debaters have also volunteered to run concessions stands at two track meets in La Crosse to raise funds. We expect the total cost of our nationals trip to be about $3000.

All donations to LPEF are tax-deductible and will be acknowledged via letter. LPEF adds a small surcharge to offset credit card processing fees and related expenses. For more details, go to our About Support-a-School page.

• If fundraising falls short of the goal, money will be used to fulfill as much of the project as feasible.
• If fundraising exceeds the goal, the project will be expanded or money will go to a similar purpose at the same school.