The 2025 Ronald Reagan Debate Series to be Held in Richmond, VA on March 29

The 2025 Ronald Reagan Debate Series to be Held in Richmond, VA on March 29 

The public is invited to watch competitive debate rounds

(Simi Valley, CA) Today, The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is proud to announce the second competition of the Ronald Reagan Debate Series will be held in Richmond, VA on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

The Ronald Reagan Debate Series serves as a platform for budding communicators to hone their skills in an environment that mirrors the values of the late President Reagan—respectful discourse, pragmatism, and the ability to connect with others. Join us for the qualifying rounds on March 8 from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM to witness the top 8 local students rise to the challenge and become eloquent champions of dialogue. The winning student of the regional competition qualifies for the National Championship in July with an all-expenses paid trip to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum for themselves and a chaperone and their chance to win their share of $50,000 in scholarship money.

The Ronald Reagan Debate Series, a prestigious and dynamic debate competition for high school students in grades 9 through 12, will take place at the Collegiate School. This event promises to be a unique opportunity for students to demonstrate their communication skills and engage with thought-provoking ideas in a setting that champions civility, storytelling, and effective dialogue.

“Our mission is to advance the legacy of Ronald Reagan and cultivate the next generation of thoughtful communicators,” said Dr. Richard Schroeder, Chief Education Programming Officer. “The Ronald Reagan Debate Series develops practical skills that transcend traditional debating, fostering civil discourse, critical thinking, and personal connection as core tenets of effective communication."

Unlike conventional debate formats, the Ronald Reagan Debate Series offers an inclusive and innovative structure that accommodates students of all experience levels. Formal debate training is not a prerequisite to participate; instead, the competition features a unique blend of speech and debate, including cross-fire questioning between participants as well as judge-led inquiries during rounds. By encouraging students to emulate the style of former presidential debates, the Debate Series emphasizes clarity over jargon, personality over formality, and humor and storytelling as essential tools for persuasive public speaking.

This year’s competition will focus on the resolution “RESOLVED: The US education system should be managed by the states, not the federal government.” Participants will have access to free training resources, available on the Ronald Reagan Debate Series website, to help prepare for this significant topic and to familiarize themselves with the series' distinctive debate style. These resources can be found at www.reaganfoundation.org/debate.  

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About the Reagan Foundation and Institute 

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute (RRPFI) is the sole nonprofit organization created by President Reagan charged with advancing his legacy and p principles—individual liberty, economic opportunity, freedom and democracy, peace through strength, and national pride. 

A globally recognized nonpartisan organization based in Simi Valley, CA, with a leading policy institute in Washington, DC, RRPFI delivers impactful public affairs programming, policy convenings and projects of national and international significance, and distinctive educational initiatives. In addition, RRPFI sustains the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, the largest and most visited presidential library, which routinely hosts major special exhibitions. 

An hour from Los Angeles International Airport, RRPFI’s Simi Valley campus sits on 400 acres, serves as the final resting place of America’s 40th President and former First Lady Nancy Reagan, displays a chunk of the Berlin Wall, and houses the plane President Reagan flew as Air Force One to 26 countries. Onsite are the Reagan Center for Public Affairs, Presidential Learning Center, Air Force One Pavilion, and the Reagan Leadership Center. More information is available at www.reaganfoundation.org.