U.S. students will travel to Jordan for Gen. Tommy Franks-hosted international debate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 17, 2010
Contact: Houda Elyazgi
helyazgi@saxumpr.com

U.S. students will travel to Jordan for Gen. Tommy Franks-hosted international debate
Students will spend time with general and debate Middle East peace

OKLAHOMA CITY – This year’s Four Star Debate program promises to be an international learning experience of a lifetime for top high school students. Twenty-four U.S. students will pair up with 24 Jordanian and Middle Eastern students at King’s Academy near Amman, Jordan to debate whether the United States should support a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. The camp will be held from July 1 – 10 and will include a visit from His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.

The students will debate the topic based on the principles that Israel and Palestine are two sovereign states, whose borders and security are recognized by the countries in the region; and that they provide economic liberalization, protect minority rights and cease violence.

Four Star Debate: Developing Leaders with General Tommy Franks is hosted by the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and the Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian University (OC).

In addition to sharpening debate and leadership skills and learning from top policy experts from across the globe, students will interact with world-renowned leaders, including Franks, the four-star general who commanded American and coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Our goal is to ensure a brighter tomorrow by bringing the best and brightest students together to learn leadership skills and debate key issues,” Franks said. “This year, we have the opportunity to add an international dimension to help the students explore a complex issue and learn first-hand from students and speakers with differing backgrounds and perspectives.”

During the camp, students will be trained in strategic thinking, planning, communication and teamwork. Participants receive practical training in the art of persuasion, gain in-depth knowledge of the debate issue, gather valuable team experiences and develop relationships with other up-and-coming leaders. Students will use the knowledge and skills they learn and apply them in a free-style team debate.

Each U.S. student will be paired as a debate partner with a student from King’s Academy, allowing students to wrestle with one of the most complex challenges that have faced global leaders for decades. While in Jordan, the students will take excursions to Wadi Rum and Petra to experience Jordanian culture and scenery first-hand.

In addition to Franks, students have the opportunity to interact with high-profile leaders, including Dr. John C. Goodman, NCPA president, and Dr. Mike O’Neal, OC president, who will teach them about leading large organizations with many competing interests.

Students will also receive training from NCPA’s professional policy analysts, debate coaches and university debate students. Leadership development and communications training will be provided by OC’s nationally recognized faculty, staff and academy contributors.

For more information, please visit http://fourstardebate.ncpa.org/.

About the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum
The goal of the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum is to tell compelling stories of leadership, introduce historical topics in each exhibit, and to encourage study and debate concerning the leadership traits illustrated by the story. It is located in Hobart, Okla. For more information, visit www.tommyfranksmuseum.org.

About the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA)
With offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C., the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization, established in 1983. The NCPA's goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector. For more information, visit www.ncpa.org

Academy of Leadership & Liberty
The Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian University exists to uphold, teach, and strengthen the values that promote liberty, free enterprise, and servant leadership. To accomplish that mission, the Academy seeks to inspire leaders of character, vision, and courage while equipping them with the values that have a profound and lasting impact on individuals, families, communities, and nations. Guided by faith and the principles of servant leadership, character, and social justice, the Academy is committed to perpetuating the values and freedoms endowed by our Creator and empowered by the founding wisdom of our democracy. For more information, visit http://www.oc.edu/academy/.

About King’s Academy
Established in 2007, King’s Academy is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational boarding and day high school (grades 9 to 12) in Madaba, Jordan. The school, which integrates the New England boarding school experience in the historical and intellectual context of the Middle East, follows an English-language, Advanced Placement curriculum. The dynamic curriculum includes an integrated co-curricular program of athletics, activities and community service, and students live in a nurturing residential environment that allows them to flourish personally and intellectually. King’s Academy is situated 30 minutes from Amman on a 144-acre (575-dunum) site and is comprised of 23 buildings and state-of-the-art facilities. For more information, visit http://www.kingsacademy.edu.jo.

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