Hundreds of debate teams from around the world entered the 2022-23 International Public Policy Forum competition, but only 16 remain, including a team of students from BASIS Scottsdale.

By advancing into the “Sweet 16” round, the students remain eligible to win an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City, where the IPPF World Champion will be awarded a $10,000 grand prize.

Sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives high school students from around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.

“The teams advancing demonstrate excellence at research, writing and advocacy,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and a founder of the IPPF. “The 16 teams remaining will compete in a final round of written debates in hopes of moving on to oral debates during the IPPF Finals in New York City.”

The IPPF’s 22nd annual competition began in October 2022, as 220 teams representing schools in 22 countries and 31 U.S. states submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic, “Resolved: The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is an effective model for international cooperation.”

Those essays were reviewed by a committee, which determined the top 64 teams based on the overall quality of each 2,800 word essay.

In November, the top 64 teams began a single-elimination, written debate competition. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email for the next six weeks.

A panel of judges reviewed the essays and selected the winning teams. In the “Round of 64,” BASIS Scottsdale advanced over Hathaway Brown Upper School from Shaker Heights, Ohio.

In the “Top 32” round, BASIS Scottsdale advanced over Crescenta Valley High School from La Crescenta-Montrose, Calif.

The “Sweet 16” round is now underway. BASIS Scottsdale is competing against EEC Debate from Toronto, Canada. The top 16 teams represent schools from 11 U.S. states, Singapore and Canada.

On March 30, the “Elite 8” teams will be announced. If BASIS Scottsdale advances, the team will win a trip to New York City to compete in the IPPF Finals on May 6 at the Harold Pratt House.

The IPPF Finals give students the opportunity to supplement their written scholarships with oral advocacy, competing in debates in front of some of the world’s foremost experts in business, law and politics. Judges will include Brewer and New York University President Emeritus John Sexton, among others. The winning team will take home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize.

The “Sweet 16” teams are:

• Amity Regional High School in Woodbridge, Conn.
• BASIS Scottsdale in Scottsdale, Ariz.
• Bergen County Debate Club in Fort Lee, N.J.
• EEC Debate in Toronto, ON, Canada
• H.Edu Institute in San Mateo, Calif.
• Hamilton High School (Team 2) in Chandler, Ariz.
• The Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas
• Ivy Bridge Academy in Johns Creek, Ga.
• John Handley High School in Winchester, Va.
• Mountain View-Los Altos Speech and Debate in Mountain View, Calif.
• Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
• Notre Dame San Jose in San Jose, Calif.
• Oxbridge Academy in West Palm Beach, Fla.
• Potomac Oak in Rockville, Md.
• UWC South East Asia in Singapore
• Wasatch Independent Debate League in Riverton, Utah