Student Spotlights: Nguyen Quangh Vinh & Willa Mulhovo
c/o Eloquence Academy
Learn more about two of our international students, Nguyen Quangh Vinh and Willa Mulhovo, and their experiences in our debate classes!
Nguyen Quangh Vinh
Nguyen Quangh Vinh lives in rural Vietnam. His family’s monthly income of $250 comes entirely from manual farming (rice, fruit, trees) on a small family farm and sits well below the required threshold of VND 11 million/month ($425/month) to file annual income tax returns. Educational opportunities are rare in his region.
We paired Vinh with a volunteer in Pennsylvania for weekly, 1:1 sessions. Vinh bonded with our volunteer, asked probing questions, and even considered how issues like environmental protection manifest differently in the United States and Vietnam. In the words of Vinh, “I want[ed] to learn debate to develop more critical thinking and speak up for myself at school for issues like violence, environmental protection, and women’s and children’s rights. I developed teamwork skills, connected more with friends, and have more diverse access to knowledge beyond school knowledge.” Debate gave Vinh a voice, and the tools to become an effective community advocate.
Willa Mulhovo
Willa Mulhovo lives in a suburb of Luanda, Angola. After persuading her favorite teacher to advise the debate team at Colegio Angolano de Talatona, Willa registered herself and four of her friends for an international, extemporaneous-style debate tournament hosted by the National Debating League in Cape Town, South Africa. With little preparation or training, Willa’s team placed second. Surprised by her success and motivated to continue improving, Willa asked her parents to research high-quality, affordable debate programs, when they discovered Eloquence Academy.
Overall, Willa aimed to refine her style and skills before her next international tournament. In particular, she was eager to receive coaching in taking notes of arguments, maintaining organized speeches, avoiding filler words, and collaborating effectively with her partners mid-round. We paired Willa with two volunteers in New York and Washington for weekly, 1:1 sessions. Willa demonstrated exceptional commitment and growth, joining sessions early, taking meticulous notes during lectures, and participating in practice rounds and drills. By the end of the program, Willa not only delivered clearer, more organized speeches, but emerged as a leader on her team, mentoring younger debaters and institutionalizing practice routines at her school ahead of her next international tournament.
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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 2,600+ students across 35 states and 18 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.
