Students from Salt, Jordan and Flower Mound, Texas win international debate The week-long leadership and debate camp featured expert speakers and a trip to Jordan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2010
Contact: Houda Elyazgi
helyazgi@saxumpr.com

Students from Salt, Jordan and Flower Mound, Texas win international debate
The week-long leadership and debate camp featured expert speakers and a trip to Jordan

AMMAN, Jordan – Students from Salt, Jordan and Flower Mound, Texas were declared winners of a week-long leadership and debate camp hosted by retired Gen. Tommy Franks from July 1–10. Jeris Abuhoran of Salt, Jordan and Brit Woods of Flower Mound, Texas competed against 22 other teams debating whether the United States should support a comprehensive peace agreement between Israel and Palestine at King’s Academy in Madaba, Jordan.

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).

“At Four Star Debate, we strive to teach students how to disagree without being disagreeable,” Gen. Franks said. “With the current conflicts plaguing our world, I am confident we’re in good hands with these 50 students leading the way. Jeris and Brit showed the kind of determination and teamwork that make great leaders.”

Guest judges for the final debate were Ambassador Robert Jordan, Jordanian Senator and former Minister of Tourism and Antiquities HE Akel Biltaji, Michele Smith, Dr. Islam Azzam and Chris Burk. Also, U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission Mr. Lawrence C. Mandel was in attendance at the evening program.

Other winners:

• The second place team of Mohammad Oran of Amman, Jordan and Andrew McNair of Argyle, Texas won $1,000 scholarships.

• Andrew McNair of Argyle, Texas won a $1,000 scholarship for being voted the top speaker.

• Leen Hajjar of Amman, Jordan won the Jack Kemp Award and a $1,000 scholarship for being voted by her peers as the most helpful student to her fellow debaters.

• Mohammad Oran of Amman, Jordan won a $1,000 scholarship for being voted the most-improved debater.

During the camp, students have been trained in strategic thinking, planning, communication and teamwork. Participants received practical training in the art of persuasion, gained in-depth knowledge of the debate issues, gathered valuable team experience and developed relationships with other up-and-coming leaders. Students have used the knowledge and skills they learned and applied them in a free-style team debate.

Each U.S. student has been paired with a debate partner student from King’s Academy, which allowed students to wrestle with one of the most complex challenges that have faced global leaders for decades.

After the final debate, students took excursions to Wadi Rum and Petra to experience Jordanian culture and scenery first-hand.

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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