Why Supporting MTSU Debate is Important

PKD 2012

Debate has enumerable benefits for the young people who participate in it such as increasing critical thinking skills, enhancing communication skills, and sharpening research skills. MTSU has prided itself to offer debaters these benefits for little or no cost and even supporting debaters with small scholarships to help cover the cost ofbooks. However, MTSU Debate like many academic pursuits struggles in these difficult economic times. Travel expenses continue to increase while state funding decreases. We are lucky to have faculty and administrative support, but that does not guarantee funding at the level necessary to provide a world-class program.Support from alumni and the community can help insure that MTSU Debate continues to grow and thrive. There are many ways to give and every little bit helps!

Individual Giving: There are many ways that you can help support MTSU Debate and MTSU debaters. You can give to one of the existing scholarships (see below) or create a new scholarship in your or someone else's name. You can also give to support team travel and supplies to help offset operating costs.

Corporate/Organizational Giving: Individual giving is not the only way you can help support MTSU debate. If you work for, or represent an organization, and would like to support MTSU Debate through that organization, please contact Coach Patrick Richey or Development Director Meredith Kerr for information on how to establish corporate/organizational giving.

Below are some of the multiple ways in which you can support MTSU Debate and debaters. Your help is always needed and appreciated. Veneratio Pro Victoria - Blue Raider Debaters

Existing Scholarships

Dr. James "Jim" Brooks Excellence Scholarship. The Brooks scholarship is a scholarship to honor the contributions Dr. Jim Brooks is known to local, regional, and national debate communities, students, and MTSU. To quote a colleague, "his wit and charm insured success." The scholarship is in the endowment phase with over a third raised to insure endowment. The scholarship will go to students on the MTSU debate team who demonstrate exception leadership skills. 

Russel Church Debate Memorial Scholarship: The Church scholarship is named in memory of Dr. Russell Church former MT Debate coach and faculty member in the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Church devoted his efforts to a lifelong pursuit of education for himself and his students. This scholarship will go to students on the MTSU debate team.

Naveen "Scott" Pejaver Memorial Scholarship: The Naveen "Scott" Pejaver Memorial Scholarship is a scholarship set up by the parents of Naveen "Scott" Pejaver and Exon. Scott was a popular student who was an MTSU debater and involved in MTSU Theatre. Scott passed away unexpectedly while a student at MTSU. The scholarship currently supports five MTSU debaters with book scholarships.

David E. Walker Scholarship: The David E. Walker Scholarship is a scholarship created to honor the memory and accomplishments for more than a quarter century to MTSU of the late Dr. David E. Walker. He gave generously and selflessly of his time and energy as a distinguished teacher, departmental leader, and debate program director. At this time, this fund supports one partial scholarship that is awarded to an incoming freshman debater.

Fistar Debate Team Endowment: The Fistar endowment is part of a larger university corporate grant. MTSU Debate received a portion of the grant. At this time,this fund awards one partial scholarship to a current or incoming freshman debater.

Natalie Woodward Debate Scholarship: The Natalie Woodward Debate Scholarship is a scholarship that was set up to honor Natalie Woodward. Currently funds are insufficient to award a scholarship.

*Please specify in your donation the scholarship to which you would like to contribute.

Create a Scholarship

Please contact Coach Patrick Richey or Meredith Kerr if you would like information on how to establish a new scholarship.

Giving for Travel and Supplies

Please specify in your donation: MTSU Debate Fund (92466)

How do I support MTSU Debate – Simple steps

You may make your gift online at www.mtsu.edu/supportMT.

To make sure your donation is credited to your desired fund, please follow these steps:

  1. When making an online gift, click on the button titled Select the fund(s) for your gift.
  2. Under College, select Liberal Arts.
  3. In the box titled Additional Comments, please identify the name of the fund to which you are donating (see list above).

Checks should be made to the MTSU Foundation with a note on the memo line that names the fund to be credited.

Office of Development
MTSU PO Box 109
Murfreesboro, TN 37132

If you have additional questions, please contact:

Dr. Patrick Richey
MTSU  Director of Forensics &  Debate
(615) 898- 2273
patrick.richey@mtsu.edu

Meredith Kerr
Development Director, College of Liberal Arts
(615) 898-5223
meredith.kerr@mtsu.edu

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