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At Debate Discovery Kids (DDK), our goal is to ensure that every child has the opportunity to develop confidence, critical thinking, and public speaking skills—regardless of background or financial means.
A brief history of how and why DDK was founded.
As nationally competitive debaters, we saw firsthand how access to speech and debate was limited to students from affluent schools, leaving countless young minds without a platform to speak up and be heard. Determined to break down these barriers, we launched DDK, a free and accessible debate program tailored for middle school students.
Through engaging lesson plans, interactive workshops, and a comprehensive 70-page workbook, we make speech and debate fun, approachable, and impactful. Our mission is simple: to foster a new generation of articulate, informed, and passionate young debaters who will redefine the landscape of discourse—both in the competitive circuit and in the world at large.
Join us in our mission to make debate accessible to all!
Sohum Shah is a driven sophomore at Sage Hill School with a passion for debate, AI, and public health. He serves as his grade’s elected Student Council Co-Chair, is a Life Scout in his Boy Scouts Troop, and is a national debate champion. He volunteers with the Lincoln Green Debate Society and Debate Discovery Kids, where he teaches middle school students to improve their speech and debate skills.
Arya is a sophomore at Fairmont Preparatory Academy with a deep interest in international relations, public policy, and catastrophic risk. A two-time national debate champion and award-winning writer, Arya’s research focuses on geopolitical conflict, s-risks, future-world philosophy, and nuclear deterrence.
Suraj Shah graduated from Arnold O. Beckman High School in Orange County, California, with a passion for speech, debate, and civic engagement. An accomplished debater and advocate for education equity, he is dedicated to expanding access to public speaking and critical thinking opportunities for students. Suraj is attending Harvard University and planning to concentrate in Government and Economics.
Courtney Tetteh-Martey is a graduate of Sage Hill School in Orange County, California. A dedicated debater and advocate, she is passionate about social justice and expanding educational opportunities for all students. Through her leadership roles, she has worked to foster inclusivity, critical thinking, and meaningful discourse. She is attending Yale University, where she will continue to make an impact through advocacy and leadership.
5th Place National Championship
2nd Place Orange County
3rd Place Orange County
10th Place National Tournament
Top 12 Orange County
Octofinalist Berkeley Invitational
3rd Place National Championship
1st Place Orange County
Octofinalist National Championship
Octofinalist National Championship
5th Place National Championship
2nd Place National Championship
2nd Place National Championship
Octofinalist National Championship
1st Place National Championship
1st Place National Championship
1st Place Orange County
Quarterfinalist Stanford Invitational