KU students win national Debater of the Year, Graduate Student Coach of the Year awards

LAWRENCE — University of Kansas student Azja Butler, of Lansing, was named the winner of the National Debater of the Year Award, and assistant coach Jyleesa Hampton was named the winner of the Graduate Student Coach of the Year Award by the Cross Examination Debate Association at an awards ceremony April 11. 

The Brian Johnston National Debater of the Year Award is designed to recognize a student who demonstrates competitive success and a commitment to represent the highest values of the debate community. Last week Butler won the top individual debater award at the National Debate Tournament. 

“Azja earned this recognition from the college debate community based not only on her outstanding debate skills but also because of her character and commitment to the ideals of the community," said Scott Harris, the David. B. Pittaway Director of Debate at KU. "She is an individual who applies her debate skills to public advocacy to make the community around her a better place.” 

Butler is the president of KU Forensics and the Jayhawker Liberation Front. She is a member of the Chancellor's Task Force on Responsible Public Safety and has been actively involved for the past year in several community projects focused on race relations at KU and in the larger community. 

“We are very proud of Azja’s accomplishments both inside and outside of debate,” said Brett Bricker, associate director of KU Debate.

Butler is the third KU debater to win the National Debater of the Year Award, joining Hampton (2015) and Kenny Delph (2020) as winners of the prestigious recognition. 
 
The Matt Grindy Outstanding Graduate Student Coach Award is intended to recognize a graduate student who demonstrates excellence in coaching as well as in their professional and graduate obligations. Hampton debated for KU, completed a master's degree in communication studies at KU and is currently a doctoral student in public administration at KU. She has been an assistant coach at KU for the past six years. During the awards ceremony a number of current and former debaters expressed how much effect Hampton has had on making them better debaters and better people. 

“Jyleesa is an amazing debate coach and an amazing person who has had a tremendous impact on the KU debate program,” Harris said.
 
Several other KU students received recognition from the Cross Examination Debate Association. Butler and Nate Martin were both named members of the All-American Debate Team. Last week they finished as the first- and second-place individual speakers at the National Debate Tournament. Ross Fitzpatrick, Nate Martin, Jimin Park, Michael Scott and Jet Semrick were all recognized as members of the All-Academic Debate Team.