Rigorous competition, quality judging, & a community that inspires mutual growth, learning, and friendship
Persuasion meets strategy at our online competitions.
Overview
It is one thing to practice a skill in class; it is another to test it against others who are just as prepared.
At tournaments, students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a real-world setting as they work to handle pressure, respond to arguments on the fly, and learn from both wins and losses. Competition pushes students to be sharper, more focused, and more intentional with their work. Above all, it is motivating—having a real goal and real opponents helps students stay engaged and take their skills seriously.
Eloquence Academy host tri-annual online debate tournaments and annual speech and mock trial competitions—each sanctioned as national circuit tournaments in their size, entry pools, and competitive procedure. Students need not enroll in our classes to compete. Entry fees are 50% more affordable than our national circuit counterparts. All competitors receive feedback from judges, and scholarships up to $5,000 are available for top performers.
Program Eligibility
✔️ You are in the 4th through 12th grades during the current academic school year
✔️ You have stable internet connection for the tournament
✔️ You are able to pay an entry fee of $25-$150 per tournament (need-based financial aid is available)
✔️ You will be supervised by a school chaperone or legal adult during the tournament
Tournaments aim to inspire goal-setting, perseverance, and a lifelong appreciation for competition, equipping students with the tools to excel in competitive debate and in life.
Lead Donors
AmeriCorps
Anonymous (2)
Arizona State University
Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation
Ashoka Changemakers
Bezos Family Foundation
Bill of Rights Institute
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Chicheng Cui
Chloe Kimball
Cornell University
Corporation for National & Community Service
David Hamburger
FirstBook Foundation
GoGift
Google LLC
GripTape Inc.
Hershey Company
Isabella Newman
Jake Weiss
Jee Eun Lee
Karma for Cara Foundation
Liam Glass
Marc Heinrich
Melissa Urfirer Gottesman
Michael Gormley
Microsoft
National Youth Leadership Council
New Jersey Governor’s Office of Volunteerism
Points of Light
Prabhkaran Gopalakrishnan
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Russell Berrie Foundation
Santosh Bari
Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation
Soyon Lee
Splunk Technologies
Srikanth Kollipara
State of New Jersey
Steven Peterson
The Purpose Commons
Youth Service America
YouTube
Learn More
Key Info
$58.33 Average Tuition
5 Tournaments
$5,000 Cash Prizes
9 Rounds
Debate
The Fall Cup, Winter Cup, and Spring Cup invite partnerships of students in grades 4-12 to engage in up to nine debate rounds, using the Public Forum format.
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Admin & Squad Fee: $0
Entry Fee: $150Hired Judge: $400
Judge Fines: $400Estimated Cost Per Student: $240
*Need-based financial aid is available.
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TBA
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The United States should accede to the Rome Statue of the International Criminal Court.
The United States should substantially reduce its military support of Taiwan.
The United States federal government should ban single-use plastics.
Public Speaking
Participants record a brief 5-7 minute speech in which they succinctly analyze a vexing issue facing their community, propose an innovative solution, and offer a “call to action.”
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Admin & Squad Fee: $0
Entry Fee: $25Estimated Cost Per Student: $25
*Need-based financial aid is available.
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TBA
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Climate change
Educational inequity
Mental health
Access to healthcare
Book bans in schools
Mock Trial
Hosted in collaboration with IY-Law, intermittent mock trial competitions invite middle and high school students to engage in courtroom procedure, trial strategy, and persuasive argumentation
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Pay as you wish.
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TBA
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The City vs. Urban Green Energy Solutions LLC
The City vs. Modern Construction LLC
The Federal Government vs. Titan Energy Resources Inc.
Upcoming
With over 800 active competitors, there is always an exciting opportunity on the horizon. Check out our calendar, join into the action, and be sure to register by the deadline!
If you cannot find an upcoming opportunity on our calendar, you can explore the tournament tabulation website Tabroom, which lists all scheduled high school and college debate tournaments.
Awards
Celebrating and honoring the student
Awards encourage greater engagement, recognize students’ hard work, and validate their progress in their public speaking journeys. All students will receive a certificate of participation. At our most recent event, we dispersed $500 in cash prizes in coordination with The World in Us, which students were asked to use as scholarships to pursue further public speaking or academic studies.
Feedback
Encouraging continued growth from a newly expanded sense of self
At the conclusion of all tournaments, students receive oral and written feedback highlighting their strongest skills, areas for improvement, and a reason for decision (if applicable). Our judges pay careful attention to support each student’s individualized growth in public speaking—an approach that ultimately ensures that every competitor, regardless of competitive outcome, gains meaningful insights to apply for the future. We create an environment that encourages growth and a careful discovery of self.
Judging
Blending confidence, skill, and mentorship
All judges undergo background checks and complete video trainings on topics of unconscious bias, round procedure, tournament policy, and the basics of speech and debate. Additionally, they are encouraged to write paradigms that highlight both their evaluation style and prior experience, so that students can adjust accordingly and the round can be accessible as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find more details?
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This webpage is intended to provide general tournament policies and the philosophy behind them. Please account for the specific instructions listed on the information packet of your tournament.
We provide one of the most robust scholarship and financial aid programs of all tournaments in the country. Last year, we approved 100% of need-based financial aid applications and hosted a pool where 50% of registered programs were Title 1 schools or schools located in geographically rural areas. To apply, please use the specific instructions listed on the information packet or invitation email of your tournament.
All fees and sales are final. We maintain a strict no-refund policy. A refund shall only be provided if neither Eloquence Academy nor its partner organizations are able to provide a tournament opportunity and its associated functions. Frustrations during the tournament, including perceived “judge screws,” delays in the schedule, and unfavorable results are not conditions to be granted a refund.
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Is financial aid available?
Which tournament is best for me?
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Deciding between speech, debate, and mock trial really comes down to your interests and strengths. If you enjoy crafting and delivering prepared messages—whether informative, persuasive, or dramatic—speech competitions might be the best fit. Debate is great if you like structured argument, critical thinking, and thinking on your feet, especially under pressure. Finally, mock trial blends public speaking with legal strategy, so it is a strong option if you are interested in that career path.
What happens after registration?
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Unlike with classes, registering for a tournament is a binding commitment. You will be automatically added to our system of contacts. We email very frequently with tournament updates, reminders, registration changes, requests, details, and scheduling notes. We will have you covered! Just make sure to provide an email address you check frequently on the registration.
