US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
DeSantis: New College of Florida Debate Prize to Be Named After Charlie Kirk
The Charlie Kirk Prize offers a $50,000 scholarship to the Florida Civics and Debate Initiative champion among over 4,200 students competing statewide.
- On Monday, October 27, 2025, Governor Ron DeSantis announced at New College of Florida in Sarasota that the statewide speech and debate trophy would be renamed in honor of Charlie Kirk.
- DeSantis credited Florida's civics expansion, growing FCDI from 59 teams in 11 districts to over 330 teams in all 67 counties, and launching a Civics Seal of Excellence program with a $3,000 bonus for teachers.
- Scholarships are structured as follows: the champion earns $50,000 and the Charlie Kirk trophy, the runner-up $25,000, semifinalists $15,000 each, and quarterfinalists $10,000 each, with winner and runner-up invited to the National Ronald Reagan Debate in California.
- DeSantis also announced an expanded partnership with Turning Point to let any Florida high school start a Club America chapter, while New College of Florida plans a privately funded Charlie Kirk statue and will host over 600 participants on April 5, 2026.
- Officials say the effort is intended to deepen students' understanding of America's founding principles and foster active civic participation; the state has placed George Washington and Thomas Jefferson statues and awarded grants worth more than $1M to commemorate America 250 by July 2026.
Insights by Ground AI
17 Articles
17 Articles
Ron DeSantis Highlights the Upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initiative State Championship at New College of Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the winner of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Debate at next year’s Florida Civics and Debate Initiative (FCDI) State Championship will receive a $50,000 scholarship and a trophy named in honor of Charlie Kirk, recognizing the importance of respectful and principled debate. The runner-up will earn a $25,000 scholarship, while the […] The post Ron DeSantis Highlights the Upcoming Florida Civics and Debate Initi…
Bay News 9Reposted by 
Spectrum News 13
Spectrum News 13Ron Desantis renames speech and debate championship prize after Charlie Kirk
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that he will rename the statewide speech and debate championship prize after late Charlie Kirk.
·Saint Petersburg, United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources17
Leaning Left0Leaning Right5Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
C 64%
R 36%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
