Please support the LASA Debate team! With a roster of 42 debaters, this year's team is the largest and most successful team in school history.

Why we need your support:

At LASA, debate is exclusively an extracurricular activity, unlike all other major debate teams on the national circuit.
We are a volunteer-run, self-funded team. Austin ISD and the school provide virtually no financial or logistical support or resources to the team—there is no debate class, no in-school meetings or work time, no funding or paid coaches provided by school.
Our extraordinary head coach volunteers his time—many weeks 40 hours or more—on top of his own full-time job.
Due to the size of our team, we have hired two amazing part-time coaches, but they are accepting significantly below-market pay to help our team.
In addition to entry fees, participation in tournaments requires our team to provide or pay for qualified judges, which often involves travel expenses as well as fees. The larger the team, the higher the judging commitment and associated expenses.
Donations will help us with the tournament fees and travel expenses involved in participating on the national and state circuits, defraying the per-debater tournament cost.
Bonus: ASDA is a non-profit organization, making your donation tax-deductible.

Several nationally ranked varsity teams—including the #1 team in the country.
5 national-level tournament wins so far this year.
LASA debate teams have advanced to elimination rounds at every tournament this year.
Largest novice class ever (23 members) with multiple tournament wins and speaker awards.
Debate is our passion, and supporting the team helps us make debate accessible to more students.
Debate teaches critical thinking, public speaking, cultural and global awareness, research and writing skills, and organizational and time-management skills.
Former LASA debaters have gone on to study at elite universities such as Harvard, Northwestern, Emory, University of Chicago, Michigan, and UT, and received significant scholarship offers from colleges around the country.
LASA Debate and the broader debate community offer a supportive network of friendship and mentorship that lasts a lifetime.