Hathaway Brown is one of only three schools in the world to advance more than one team to the Top 64 in International Public Policy Forum debate. The IPPF is a worldwide competition of written debate sponsored by the Bickel and Brewer law firm and New York University. Teams from around the globe wrote preliminary round essays on the topic “Resolved: The obligation to provide safe haven for refugees should outweigh a government’s right to control its borders.” The Top 64 teams are vying for spots in elimination round bracket, hoping for an all-expenses paid trip to NYC to compete live at the IPPF Finals this coming spring. HB has traditionally fared well in this prestigious competition, even ranking as international runner-up in 2014. This is the first time that more than one HB team has made it this far in the contest.
HB's Top 64 IPPF teams are:
Team 1 - Alison Xin '19, Jennifer Wang '19, Megan Qiang '19, Sukhmani Kaur '18
Team 2 - Farah Sayed '19, Kathy Wang '19, Angela Zhu '19
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
ABOUT IPPF
Founded in 2001 by the law firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) is the only contest that gives high school students around the globe the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. Now jointly administered by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, this program is available to all public and private high schools for free.
The competition begins in October, as each school submits a qualifying round essay on the IPPF topic. The essay should be no more than 2,800 words, either affirming or negating the topic resolution. The IPPF Essay Review Committee evaluates each essay, and the top 64 teams earn cash awards and advance into a single-elimination, written debate competition.
In the top 64 round, schools volley papers back and forth via e-mail. Judges review the essays in the order they were presented (affirmative constructive, negative constructive, affirmative rebuttal, negative rebuttal) and select the advancing teams. The process begins anew as the Top 32 teams compete for their chance to advance to the Sweet 16 round.
In March, the "Elite 8" teams are announced. These teams win all-expenses-paid trips to New York City to compete during IPPF Finals Weekend. Ultimately, the IPPF Champion wins a $10,000 grand prize and the Brewer Cup. Learn more here.