Students across Florida reflect on what they love most about America as the nation marks its 250th anniversary. Oviedo, Fla. - In celebration of Independence Day and in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the Florida Debate Initiative is proud to announce the winners of the 2026 America 250 Speech Contest, a statewide opportunity for students to reflect on what they love most about the United States and why it makes them proud. The contest invited students in grades 3 throu

2025 Civics Immersion Experience Cohort in Washington D.C. ORLANDO, Fla. — February 2, 2026 — The Florida Debate Initiative (FDI) is proud to announce its 2026 Civic Immersion Cohort, an exceptionally selective group of student leaders chosen from hundreds of applicants statewide. Selections are made using a rubric-based review of each student’s application packet. In general, FDI considers academic readiness, the strength of written responses, demonstrated interest in civics

2024 Veterans Day Speech Contest Winners Oviedo, FL: Florida Debate Initiative (FDI) proudly announces the winners of its 2025 Veterans Day Speech Contest. 2025 Prompt: LEARN FROM THOSE WHO SERVED - What can we learn from veterans about courage, teamwork, and responsibility? How can those lessons help students in everyday life? Participation surged this year, with student submissions nearly doubling from our inaugural contest. Entries were evaluated by a panel of speech exper