MACON — Two Mercer University freshmen were named novice national champions and the Mercer debate team ranked fifth overall at the 2025 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament held recently at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. The No. 5 ranking was based on the combined performance of everyone who competed.
In the varsity category, Jayla Owens, a junior biology major, and Niyati Patel, a senior honors global development, international affairs and Spanish major, made it to the Octofinals round. Owens also won the 14th-place speaker award and Patel also won the 12th-place speaker award and the All American Award, which is an honor reserved for the best graduating seniors in the activity.
In the novice category, Pari Bakshi, a freshman honors neuroscience major, and Isabel Neely, a freshman honors business student, were named novice national champions in the novice championship round. Neely also won the novice national champion speaker award and Bakshi also won the second-place speaker award.
Mya Rhema Hudson Kimbrough, a junior international affairs major, and Alijah Sullivan, a freshman honors engineering student, contributed to Mercer’s overall fifth-place ranking.
Dr. Vasile Stănescu, associate professor of communication studies and director of debate, was one of four coaches who helped with the team this year.
“I am proud of each of these debaters,” said Dr. Stănescu. “They worked extremely hard throughout the entire semester. They continue to represent the best qualities of Mercer and showcase to everyone the unique value of Mercer education. It is a continuing joy to know each of them.”
Parliamentary debate features two teams of two students debating one another on relevant topics of national or international interest. One team, called the “government,” affirms a given resolution, while the other team, called the “opposition,” refutes it. The four speakers alternate in presenting their arguments, based on their existing knowledge and 20 minutes of research done just before the debate.
This year’s other coaches were Fiker Tesfaye, Adeja Powell and Cam Wade. Tesfaye, a lecturer of communication studies, previously won the James ‘Al’ Johnson Top Speaker Award, the highest individual honor presented at the NPDA championship and currently serves as the vice president of the NPDA. Powell previously won NPDA Nationals, currently serves as the president of the NPDA and won this year’s Coach of the Year award. Wade is a former Mercer debater, who recently graduated from the University of Chicago. During his time at Mercer, Wade also won the James ‘Al’ Johnson Top Speaker Award.
“I would like to congratulate Adeja on winning the Coach of the Year award,” said Dr. Stănescu. “This award reflects how beloved they are by Mercer’s debate team and how appreciated they are by other colleges and universities.”
Feature image: Mercer debate team at the 2025 National Parliamentary Debate Association National Tournament at McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois
