Overview

• Education Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas announced the decision in an Oct. 3 memo to district superintendents.
• The award will be presented at the statewide championship in April at New College of Florida in Sarasota.
• Kamoutsas cited Kirk’s killing and emphasized that disagreement should remain peaceful, principled and constructive.
• The Florida Civics and Debate Initiative now includes 330 teams across all 67 counties after launching in 2020 with 59 teams in 11 districts.
• New College said last month it would commission a statue of Kirk as it prepares to host the championship.