2025 UBC Fall

VDA Debaters Win Multiple Titles at UBC Fall

VDA had an insanely successful weekend at the UBC Fall Tournament, with VDA debaters bringing home the twin crowns of the Senior Championship Trophy and Senior Top Speaker Award. With an unprecedented six of the eight total breaking teams in the Senior Division consisting of VDA students, we couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and achievements from all of our students and coaches!

The results speak volumes about the depth of talent at VDA. Let’s celebrate our incredible students and their achievements:

Senior British Parliamentary Debate

Team Awards:

• Champions: Owen Kan
• Finalists: Audrey Yung & Esther Lin
• Finalists: Karissa Lin
• Semifinalists: Crystal Su & Amanda Chen
• Semifinalists: Norah Liu & Eaton Li
• Semifinalists: Kateryna Naumenko & Atharv Das

A special shout-out to Marek Cai, whose team finished in 9th Place, just barely missing the elimination round break.

Speaker Awards: 

• Top Speaker: Karissa Lin
• Fifth Speaker: Kateryna Naumenko
• Eighth Speaker: Owen Kan
• Tenth Speaker: Norah Liu

Finishing just as impressively within the top 15:

• Eleventh Speaker: Atharv Das
• Twelfth Speaker: Eaton Li
• Thirteenth Speaker: Marek Cai
• Fifteenth Speaker: Amanda Chen

Junior British Parliamentary Debate

• Ninth Speaker: Nicolas Liu

The team of Luella Zhang & Nicolas Liu fought hard and finished in 10th Place, just on the cusp of breaking into elimination rounds.

Finally, congratulations to all the young debaters who competed in their first-ever tournament this weekend! Your perseverance and team spirit were a testament to the VDA spirit! From our champions to every debater who contributed to this team effort, we are incredibly proud.

This weekend was a true testament to the VDA spirit of excellence and collaboration. From our champions to every debater who contributed to this team effort, we are incredibly proud.

Let’s go VDA!!!