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Local grant provides free debate camp for expanding McPherson County program

Community investment saves area families thousands in summer preparation costs

Greg Loving, Cronkite

27 Jul 2026 • 2 min read

MCCF

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MCPHERSON, Kan. — A local community fund covered the cost of debate camp for 72 area high school students and coaches last week, saving families thousands of dollars in summer preparation expenses. The camp, hosted on the McPherson College campus July 23, 2026, was backed by the McPherson County Community Foundation's Edwin R. Stucky Debate Enhancement Fund.

McPherson High School debate coach Aaron Schopper said similar summer programs typically charge a minimum of $1,000 — a steep financial hurdle. The foundation's grant eliminated that cost entirely, covering instruction, meals and camp T-shirts.

The annual preparation camp has more than doubled in attendance since 2024, when it served just 30 McPherson High School students. After expanding to include neighboring districts last year, the program now allows participants to learn from multiple area coaches while connecting with peers from across the region.

During the recent sessions, attendees focused on debate fundamentals, public speaking and health insurance — the designated topic for the upcoming season.

The health insurance topic comes from the National Federation of State High School Associations, which announced it as the 2026-27 national policy debate topic for high schools across the country. According to the NFHS, the subject was selected through a vote by member state associations. It will require students nationwide to research and argue policy proposals related to health insurance coverage and reform, giving the McPherson camp's early focus on the topic an advantage heading into the season.

Schopper said organizers plan to incorporate the new subject into future camp curricula well in advance of the transition. He added that the sustained financial backing ensures local debate programs can thrive and provide high-quality training to students regardless of their economic background.

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