Debate earns bonus dollars in first year participating in One Day One KU
One Day One KU strengthens KU Debate by expanding opportunities for students to compete on the national stage.
The University of Kansas has one of the most successful college policy debate programs in the country. And its success isn't limited to its time in front of judges; KU Debate made a strong debut during One Day One KU in February 2025, raising over $30,000 in total.
The program earned $7,000 in Participation Challenge funds thanks to 212 individual donors, placing it among the university and affiliate groups with the highest real-time engagement.
Those bonus dollars will ensure KU's championship debate team has the opportunity to give more team members exposure to a wider variety of tournaments and competitions. KU Debate competes at several national tournaments including The National Debate Tournament, the American Debate Association Championship Tournament, and the Cross Examination Debate Association Championship Tournament. One Day One KU challenge funds will cover travel expenses, where the team's budget falls short, to send team members to these competitions.
Scott Harris, the David B. Pittaway director of KU Debate, said the bonus funds will give more KU students the opportunity to compete in national tournaments.
"While a limited number of students qualify for the National Debate Tournament, the ADA and CEDA nationals give more members of our debate team the opportunity to experience a national championship tournament," Harris said. "Earning funds with the Participation Challenge will allow more students to attend those tournaments."
The funds generated through the challenge will play a significant role in keeping KU Debate competitive on a national stage. The KU debate team parallels men's basketball in its history of success as one of the top 5 programs in the country. Attending national championship tournaments is central to developing the depth of talent required to keep KU Debate a national power, Harris said.
The challenges, new to the 24-hour event, had a multiplier impact in motivating other donors to give.
"One Day One KU will have long term impact on the success of KU Debate, one that will go a long way toward ensuring that its future measures up to its past."
— Scott Harris, David B. Pittaway, Director, KU Debate
"Debaters love to compete, and the Participation Challenge funds helped excite our alumni base and allowed us to attract many first-time donors," Harris said. "We are beyond grateful for the generous contribution that will have long term impact on the success of KU Debate, one that will go a long way toward ensuring that its future measures up to its past."
One Day One KU is back: On April 28-29, 2026 from noon to noon, join Jayhawks everywhere in helping the university we love to do extraordinary things — save the date!
