Maryland teenagers win 2025 Winter Cup Debate Tournament

Dec 14

Eloquence Academy is pleased to announce the results of its 4th Annual Winter Cup Debate Tournament, an event made possible by generous grant support from the Karma for Cara Foundation.

The tournament was open to any student, in any country, enrolled in an accredited primary school, secondary school, or debate club. From December 13, 2025 through December 14, 2025, the tournament welcomed over 50 impressive competitors from more than seven states and two countries. With middle and high school divisions, students competed in teams of two, considering whether the United States government should require technology companies to provide lawful access to encrypted communications. The topic required knowledge of cryptography, privacy and civil liberties, and national security law.

Each partnership competed in up to eight debate rounds with eight speeches and three cross-examinations per round. Students utilized their previous research and vast knowledge of the topic to craft articulate, powerful ideas. Each and every speech reflected excellence in public speaking, rhetorical skills, critical thinking, and social awareness.

“We are incredibly proud of our participants and the thoughtful yet eager responses they brought to the tournament,” said Spencer Chaisanguanthum, Chief Executive Officer of Eloquence Academy. “We are equally grateful for our volunteers, implementation partners, and donors who helped bring this idea to life. By empowering students to research, understand, and advocate, we are developing the next generation of dynamic leaders and changemakers who can tackle society’s most complex problems head-on.”

During the tournament, all students successfully explored real-world social issues, identified actionable ideas, and considered how public policies can have a measurable impact on the most vulnerable populations. To reinforce the idea that advocacy can translate into action focused on community betterment, Winter Cup doubled as a charitable fundraiser. The Eloquence Charitable Fund pledged $1,000 and a donation of 1,000 coats to One Warm Coat, a national charity that has organized over 43,000 coat drives across the US to provide warmth to 7.3 million struggling families. It was a pleasure to partner with such an impactful organization.

Tournament competitors were judged by some of the foremost leaders in the field of public speaking and public policy on a range of criteria including creativity, the clarity and relevance of their message, ability to incorporate research, and delivery. We extend congratulations to Aadi Garg and Anne Mihai from Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, Maryland for placing first, emerging out of a competitive pool. Advaita Bulusu and Saanvi Lanke from Potomac Debate Academy won first place in the middle school division.

In addition to Bulusu, Garg, Lanke, and Mihai, we recognize the following students:

High School Public Forum
Runners-up Mark Shanker and Beyla Szarvas (Avenues: The World School in New York, NY)
Semifinalists Ishani Aluguvelli and Manvi Kallavi (North Allegheny High School in Wexford, PA)
Semifinalists William Cho and Saanvi Naik (BASIS Peoria Independent in Peoria, AZ)
Quarterfinalists Sarah Chen and Yujin Kim (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
Top Speaker Aadi Garg (Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, Maryland)
2nd Speaker Anne Mihai (Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, Maryland)
3rd Speaker Saanvi Naik (BASIS Peoria Independent in Peoria, AZ)
4th Speaker Ishani Aluguvelli (North Allegheny High School in Wexford, PA)
5th Speaker Sungwoo Cho (Skyline North High School in Sammamish, WA)

Middle School Public Forum
Runners-up Beckett Redekop and Leo Wong (BC Academy in Vancouver, Canada)
Semifinalists Navya Goel and Divya Sthanikam (Mustang Speech & Debate in San Jose, CA)
Top Speaker Leo Wong (BC Academy in Vancouver, Canada)
2nd Speaker Anika Gupta (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
3rd Speaker Saanvi Lanke (Potomac Debate Academy in Rockville, MD)
4th Speaker Siya Erasani (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)
5th Speaker Samantha Ma (Golden State Academy in Fremont, CA)

For more information about the tournament, or to inquire about the 2026 edition and future competition(s), please visit eloquenceacademy.org or contact finance@eloquenceacademy.org.

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Eloquence Academy, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and 509(a)(2) public charity dedicated to increasing equitable academic debate opportunities for rural and historically underserved students. The Academy offers debate classes, summer camps, workshops, tournaments, in-school programs, and online resources for 2,500+ students across 35 states and 17 countries. Ultimately, EA aims to prepare youth for college readiness, career engagement, and community impact through the transferable skills gained from debate. Follow EA on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.