TM
Classic Debate Camp
Miami University, Ohio - July 13-21, 2024
Sukhm Kang
Instructor - Public Forum
Sukhm Kang is currently a senior at the University of Chicago, majoring in math. He debated in Public Forum for University School (Ohio) for four years and served as the team captain during his senior year. His accomplishments include Ohio state champion, Blake champion, Stanford finalist, and Bronx semifinalist. Sukhm earned 10 TOC bids over the course of his debate career, and also competed at the NSDA national tournament twice. After graduating from US, he coached students who reached elimination rounds at several national tournaments and qualified to the TOC. After a year off in 2023, Sukhm is excited to return to CDC and meet this year’s PF campers. Fun fact about Sukhm is that he's a runner and all campers and instructors are welcome to join him on some runs around the Miami campus during the week of camp!
Bella Willhite
Instructor - Public Forum
Bella Willhite is a senior at Regis University in Colorado studying Economics and Public Policy. In college, Bella competes in British Parliamentary debate, and she and her partner have been recognized as the top team for the Western Debating League (YODL). Bella has won a number of Western League tournaments as well as the Point Loma University’s Sunset Cliffs Classic. In high school, Bella was a four-year Public Forum competitor for La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was PF captain during her senior year. Bella won two NM state championships, going undefeated both times. Bella is also a two-time national qualifier, in PF and World Schools Debate. FUN FACT: Bella has debated in Poland, Spain, Alaska, and Hawaii… she loves to travel! She traveled to Ohio to attend CDC as a camper in 2018. Then she joined the PF staff for CDC-Virtual in 2020. After a two year break, Bella returned to Ohio for CDC2023, and she is excited to be back again for CDC2024!
Luke Wagner
Instructor - Public Forum
Luke Wagner did Public Forum debate for four years. He competed for Perry High School and was a four-time state qualifier. In his junior year, Luke and his partner Brooke were the state champions. In his senior year, they made it to the final round and finished in 2nd place at states. Luke has also qualified to the NSDA national tournament two times. Luke was the Public Forum captain for Perry his senior year, but he has also competed in every NSDA debate category as well as extemporaneous speaking. Outside of debate, Luke enjoys playing guitar, piano, and drums; he composes his own original songs; and he performs in gigs across Ohio with his band. Last summer Luke performed a guitar solo that brought down the house at the first ever CDC Talent Show. He believes in debating like a story-teller and is excited to promote narrative-based strategies this summer at CDC!
Becky Walker
Instructor - Public Forum
Becky Walker was a public forum debater at Laurel School. She debated all four years, qualifying to the Ohio state tournament three years in a row. She served as co-captain of the public forum team during her junior and senior year and also served as middle school coach at Laurel. Outside of debate, she enjoys figure skating, going to coffee shops, and hanging out with friends. She is attending Williams College. She attended CDC as a camper for two years. She joined the CDC staff in 2023 and is returning for CDC2024. She loves the collaborative and fun debate environment created by CDC.
Abraham Paik
Instructor - Public Forum
Abraham Paik was a Public Forum Debater for University School. He debated for all four years, qualifying to the Ohio state tournament three years in a row. He advanced to the quarterfinals twice and won 2nd place at states in his senior year. In addition, Abraham qualified to the NSDA national tournament twice and the Tournament of Champions three times (with a career total of 12 TOC bids). He advanced to the octafinals at the TOC his senior year. Throughout his senior year, one of Abraham's goals was to compete in as many tournament rounds as possible. He surpassed 160 rounds. Other than debate, Abraham loves playing piano and is an Eagle Scout. He is attending Williams College, where he is majoring in music and history and he goes on hikes every week. He attended CDC as a camper twice and joined the CDC staff in 2021. He looks forward to growing the next generation of virtuous victors at CDC. As a private coach, Abraham helped CDC campers Bohan Pan and Eric Fan win the 2023 Missouri state championship in PF!
Ananth Menon
Instructor - Public Forum
Ananth Menon competed for four years in Public Forum debate for University School in Ohio, serving as PF captain his senior year. On the national circuit, Ananth was a three-time qualifier to the Tournament of Champions, amassing 10 career bids. During his junior year, Ananth finished 2nd in PF at the 2021 TOC and reached late elimination rounds in all 13 national circuit tournaments he competed at. In Ohio, Ananth was a four-time qualifier to the state tournament and was named the Northcoast District Student of the Year. During his senior year, Ananth won 1st place at four tournaments: Edison, Mentor, CDC, and Kenston. Outside of debate, Ananth enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, and spending time with friends. Ananth attended CDC for three summers as a camper and was very excited to join the staff in 2022.