Gonzaga Debate Students Excel at National Tournament and Research Conference

Stock image of a megaphone
April 25, 2025
College of Arts & Sciences

Gonzaga University students delivered a season-defining performance at the 2025 Tournament and Conference of Scholars hosted by Arizona State University. The final event of the season for participants in the Collegiate Advocacy and Research Debate (CARD) circuit, this competition was more than a culminating contest — it was a platform for showcasing student excellence in both advocacy and academic research.

The CARD format emphasizes evidence-based, intellectually rigorous debates tailored for public engagement. Gonzaga debaters embraced this dual challenge with distinction. While the team brought home numerous awards, their impact was most deeply felt during the academic research conference component.

Three Gonzaga students earned top honors in the “Best Research Paper” category:

  • 1st Place – Andrea Moreno (Senior, Communication Studies): Settler Colonialism and Climate Change in Toni Morrison’sA Mercy
  • 2nd Place – Kaelyn Wellman (Junior, Honors Program and Philosophy): All Roads Lead to Extinction: Apocalyptic Rhetoric, Climate Change and Policy Debate
  • 3rd Place – Adalyn Soderquist (Sophomore, Education): Depoliticizing Climate Change Rhetoric

Gonzaga's debate teams also dominated the competitive rounds:

  • The varsity teams of Kaelyn Wellman and Everett Roe (Junior, Civil Engineering), and Andrea Moreno and Angelo Celletti (Senior, Political Science) advanced to the championship round, securing both first and second place.
  • In the junior varsity division, Adalyn Soderquist and El Jones (Sophomore, Communication Studies) reached the final round, finishing as runners-up in a close match against the University of Minnesota.

Several students earned individual accolades:

  • Kaelyn Wellman was named Top Speaker in the Varsity Division and Debater of the Year in the CARD format.
  • Everett Roe earned Second Overall Speaker and Runner-Up for Debater of the Year.
  • Andrea Moreno received Fifth Overall Speaker in varsity.
  • El Jones earned Second Overall Speaker in junior varsity.

Making History:

This year, Gonzaga made CARD history by winning every varsity tournament of the season. In all but one, the final round featured two Gonzaga teams — a testament to the depth and consistency of the program. In the junior varsity division, Gonzaga appeared in four out of five championship rounds, winning two.

This level of excellence is unprecedented in the CARD format. The achievement reflects not only the students’ intellect and drive but also Gonzaga’s commitment to applied learning, ethical leadership and scholarship that serves the common good.