Congress Coaches

Alisha has been involved with speech and debate for six years. She was honored to be one of the few people to have won the California State Championship twice (2022 in congressional debate, 2024 as PO). As a freshman, she founded her school's first congressional debate team and coached it to be one of the most successful congress programs in Southern California. Alisha also placed third at TOC and broke to finals twice at NSDA Nationals. Now, she is a student at UCLA and loves giving back to an activity that she credits with shaping her into the thinker, speaker, and go-getter that she is today.

Henry is a senior from Anderson High in Austin, Texas, serving out his fourth and final year in Congressional Debate. He was the 2023 Congress runner-up at Florida Blue Key, placed 5th at the 2024 Barkley Forum, and qualified for the TOC in both 2023 and 2024 (but was unable to attend either year). Henry has also advanced to outrounds at TFA State, NSDA Nationals (Senate), Grapevine, and numerous other tournaments. He believes that the cornerstone to succeeding in Congressional Debate is to focus on being the most eloquent and interesting version of yourself, and hopes to help EIF's students find their voices in that sense.

Grace has been involved in debate for three years and serves as the captain of the Hagerty Debate Team. In her time competing in congress she has placed 6th at NCFL Nationals, 9th in NSDA Senate Finals, Finaled Emory , 3rd at EIF round robin and semis at Yale, Sunvite and Blue Key . She served as a coach to the advanced lab at the EIF summer camp and private coach to high schoolers. Outside of debate shes a gym rat who loves going out with friends, beach days, listening to Lauryn Hill, volunteering in her community and trying new recipes. As a coach she emphasizes simplicity, how to keep people engaged and most importantly bringing your personality into round. A debaters greatest strength is their unique self, as a coach she hopes to help every debate realize that and unlock their full potential. She’s super excited to work with this years talent!

Sameer is a senior at PCDS and has been doing debate for four years. He has made final rounds at tournaments like Harvard, Bronx, and the TOC. He loves coaching in many different fields like club basketball clinics, tutoring, and debate. He can’t wait to get started with Equality in Forensics!!

Chaith is a junior at Archbishop Mitty, and has been involved with debate since the start of freshman year. He currently serves as a captain on the team while competing in PF, Extemp, and Congress. Notable wins include: 2nd at CHSSA as PO, semifinals at Nationals, Finalist at Jack Howe, and 7th at Glenbrooks (all in congress). As a coach he believes that finding a unique style and voice is essential to being successful. Outside of debate, he enjoys playing Madden, watching basketball, and relistening to Blonde by Frank Ocean.

Enan is a junior here in Florida; he's been involved in speech and debate for 4 years now, most well known for champing the state novice tournament, finaling Harvard (11th), finaling Yale twice (8th, 14th), finaling Princeton (8th), and making semis at nationals 2 years in a row. While he isn't debating, you can find him either studying math or cooking in the kitchen!

Audrey is a rising junior at University High School, Irvine, where she has helped revitalize the dormant debate team there. She has done speech and debate for 6 years (dividing her time between policy and congressional debate). In her Congress career, she has most notably placed 12th at TOC, 10th at Yale, and is two-time champion of La Costa. She is never seen outside of a debate context: she is either on the way to a debate tournament, at a debate tournament, prepping for one, coaching others for one, judging one, or recovering from one. Basically, debate is her personality.

Sebastian is a current sophomore at American Heritage Palm Beach, currently part of the team’s leadership as Congress Captain. As he’s been debating for 5 years, he had an exceptionally strong freshman year, becoming a finalist at tournaments such as Florida Blue Key and the Barkley Forum at Emory, and getting 2nd place at the Princeton Classic. Sebastian, in his freshman year, also demonstrated his capabilities as one of the strongest Congressional debaters within Florida, winning the Florida Novice State Championship and getting 4th at the Varsity State tournament. As a coach, he enjoys bringing out the personable and simple side of debating through exemplifying emotions and feelings. Furthermore, he enjoys working closely with mentors, peers and mentees to create argumentation that stems from personal backgrounds to enhance persuasion in round. Outside of debate, Sebastian enjoys a variety of water sports, traveling the world, and going out with friends. He can’t wait to be part of the effort to coach the next generation!

[TBD]