CCU Speech and Debate

About the Speech and Debate Team

Colorado Christian University Speech and Debate competes nationally against the best colleges and universities in the country in debate events that emphasize rhetoric, argumentation, persuasion, and critical thinking. CCU also offers a fully comprehensive program in individual events. Our team travels all across the country and is fully funded. We typically have between 12 and 20 team members. In addition to competing, we see our platform as an opportunity to give back to our communities by volunteering at local high school debate tournaments and running workshops across various leagues.

Historically, the team has been very successful. We have won numerous national championships at the National Christian Colleges Forensics Invitational, and we have placed in the top five in the nation at both IPDA Nationals and Pi Kappa Delta Nationals.

Fundamentally, we see speech and debate as a learning activity. We want to learn the skills that will help us thrive in our future careers and which will help us to be effective witnesses to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Interested in Speech and Debate?

  • Fully Funded

    • Travel, lodging, and registration costs are covered by the team

    Scholarship Opportunities

    • Most students on the team receive speech and debate scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000 each year

    Team of 12-16 competitors

    • Our members are from all over the country and represent a diverse group of college majors

    No Experience Required

    • Some of our best competitors did not do speech and debate in high school.
  • CCU has been successful at both the regional and national levels. Here are some of our recent team awards at national tournaments, including the National Christian Colleges Forensics Invitational (NCCFI), the IPDA National Tournament, and the Pi Kappa Delta National Tournament (Pi Kappa Delta is the oldest forensics association in the United States).

    2020
    2nd Overall - Christian College Nationals
    2019
    3rd Overall - Christian College Nationals
    2nd Overall - IPDA Debate Nationals
    National Champions, Team IPDA Division
    2018
    4th Overall - Christian College Nationals
    3rd Overall - Christian College Nationals
    5th Overall - IPDA Debate Varsity Season-Long Award
    2017
    4th Overall - Pi Kappa Delta Nationals
    1st Overall, NCCFI
    1st in Debate, NCCFI
    2016
    3rd Overall - Christian College Nationals - Individual Events
    3rd Overall - Christian College Nationals - Debate
    2015
    1st Overall - Christian College Nationals
    2nd Overall - Christian College Nationals - Individual Events
    1st Overall - Christian College Nationals - Debate
    2014
    1st Overall - Christian College Nationals - Debate
    2013
    1st Overall - Christian College Nationals - Debate
    2012
    1st Overall - Christian College Nationals - Debate

CCU Alumni

Our students go on to prestigious graduate study and successful careers in the private sector. For example, we have placed alumni at Notre Dame Law, Northwestern Law, and have had students accepted to schools such as Duke Law. Related to this, we enjoy a close partnership with CCU's Moot Court team. We have many students who are members of both teams.