From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu
Headlines
Two KU Debate teams qualify for National Debate Tournament
LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas debate teams have been selected as automatic qualifiers for the 2023 National Debate Tournament, to take place March 30-April 4 in Chantilly, Virginia. The team of seniors Mickey McMahon, Leawood, and Michael Scott, Glenview, Illinois, and the team of Jimin Park, Topeka, and Jet Semrick, Prairie Village, were among the top 16 teams in the country to receive automatic qualification. This is the 56th consecutive year that KU Debate has qualified teams for the National Debate Tournament.
KU Institute of Health + Wellness Design hosting Health, Equity & Architecture symposium
LAWRENCE — Leading architects are gathering at the University of Kansas on Feb. 20 for a discussion on how architecture can bridge the gap between social equity and human well-being. The KU Institute of Health + Wellness Design’s sixth annual symposium, Health, Equity & Architecture, will begin at 2 p.m. in the School of Architecture & Design’s Marvin Hall Forum and online via livestream.
Full stories below.
————————————————————————
Contact: Scott Harris, KU Debate, 785-864-9878, [email protected], @KansasDebate
Two KU Debate teams qualify for National Debate Tournament
LAWRENCE — Two University of Kansas debate teams have been selected as automatic qualifiers for the 2023 National Debate Tournament, to take place March 30-April 4 in Chantilly, Virginia. The team of seniors Mickey McMahon, Leawood, and Michael Scott, Glenview, Illinois, and the team of Jimin Park, Topeka, and Jet Semrick, Prairie Village, were among the top 16 teams in the country, based on season-long performance, to be selected by the NDT National Committee to receive automatic qualification. This is the 56th consecutive year that KU Debate has qualified teams for the National Debate Tournament. It is the first time since 2017 that KU has had two teams selected as automatic qualifiers.
In 1973, the National Debate Tournament began recognizing the top 16 teams in the country as automatic first-round, at-large qualifiers for the tournament. The order of the committee rankings is kept secret until the tournament. KU has now had 44 teams receive first-round automatic qualifications. This is the fourth time that McMahon and Scott have qualified to compete at the NDT and the second time they have received an automatic top-16 qualification. Last year the pair reached the Final Four of the National Debate Tournament. This is the second time that Park and Semrick have qualified to compete at the NDT and their first time as an automatic qualifier. Last year the pair qualified for the single-elimination debates at the NDT.
Joining KU as automatic qualifiers are California State University at Long Beach, Dartmouth College (two teams), Emory University (two teams), Georgetown University, Harvard University, the University of Kentucky, the University of Michigan (two teams), Northwestern University, the University of Texas and Wake Forest University (two teams). The rest of the 78-team field for the tournament will be filled through regional qualifying tournaments and second-round at-large selections over the next few weeks. KU has finished in the top four at the NDT in six of the past seven seasons, including winning the national championship in 2018.
“Jet and I are thrilled with the honor of being selected as a first round qualifying team to the NDT,” Park said. “We are grateful for all of the hard work of the coaching staff and the entire squad that helped make it possible.”
“We have the best coaches in the country, and we are thankful for all they do to help us succeed,” McMahon said.
The coaching staff is led by Brett Bricker, associate director of Kansas Debate, along with assistant coaches Azja Butler, Nathan Davis, Jyleesa Hampton, Derek Hilligoss, Ned Gidley, Max Reese, Jesse Smith and Alaina Walberg. Scott Harris is the David B. Pittaway Director of the debate program.
-30-
————————————————————————
The official university Twitter account has changed to @UnivOfKansas.
Refollow @KUNews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.
Tweets by KUnews
————————————————————————
Contact: Dan Rolf, School of Architecture & Design, 785-864-3027, [email protected], @ArcD_KU
KU Institute of Health + Wellness Design hosting Health, Equity & Architecture symposium
LAWRENCE – Leading architects are gathering at the University of Kansas on Feb. 20 for a discussion on how architecture can bridge the gap between social equity and human well-being.
The KU Institute of Health + Wellness Design’s sixth annual symposium, Health, Equity & Architecture, will begin at 2 p.m. in the School of Architecture & Design’s Marvin Hall Forum and online via livestream.
The symposium will feature a keynote address by Curtis Moody, FAIA, founder and board chair of Moody Nolan, the largest African American-owned architecture firm in the United States.
After the keynote, a presentation by Bonny Slater, ASID, of Gensler, will be followed by a response by Diamond Bronson, AIA, of Hoefer Welker. Bronson will then moderate a question-and-answer session.
The symposium will be followed by a reception at 3:30 p.m. in the Forum.
American Institute of Architects (AIA) members in attendance may earn 1.5 Health, Safety and Welfare continuing education units (CEUs). Details will be available at the end of the symposium.
Symposium presenters:
1. Curtis Moody, FAIA, is the founder and board chair of Moody Nolan. The firm has won more than 300 design citations, including 46 from the American Institute of Architects and 43 from the National Organization of Minority Architects. Moody Nolan was awarded the AIA 2021 firm award and named one of the most innovative architecture firms of 2022 by Fast Company.
2. Bonny Slater, ASID, is the Regional Health & Wellness Practice leader and senior associate at Gensler, Washington, D.C. Her specialty is creating inspiring places to support health and wellness. With expertise in both design and psychology, she brings a unique perspective to her projects through a research-driven approach to design for the diverse needs of users.
3. Diamond Bronson, AIA, is a KU alumna and member of Hoefer Welker’s Healthcare Studio Leadership Team in the firm’s Kansas City office. She recently completed the Pillars Leadership Program with the AIA-Kansas City chapter. Her passion for philanthropy and mentoring allows her to use her talent as an architect to give back to the community while nurturing the growth potential in our future architecture leaders.
-30-
————————————————————————
KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]
Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs
