RKS at WFU Debate Workshops

01/18/2023

RKS is now accepting applications for 2023 - both in-person and online! Over the next few weeks we'll offer follow up feature posts about our faculty and experiences the students should look forward to.

Come join us on the beautiful campus of Wake Forest for the RKS Experience!

Apply and Learn more at https://www.rksatwfu.org/

04/26/2022

RKS alumni Antonio Souchet and Kyle Shah are in the finals of the TOC!!!!!!

Good luck Berkeley Prep SS!

And props to the team and coaches!

Let's get it!!!

Unlike any other debate camp in the country, the RKS practices what we call the “No-Lab Curriculum.” The No-Lab Curriculum is a dynamic, collaborative, and adaptive structure that balances skills development, intellectual growth, and healthy living.  Other camps are organized through the format...

04/25/2022

Congrats to all the RKS alumni who broke at the TOC!

James Logan BM – Emilio Menotti
Lawrence Free State PR – Aj Persinger
Northview IS – Juliette Salah
Little Rock Central MG – Michelle Gong
Perry JA – Joey Antonelli
Stockdale GS – Glen Scully

And Congrats to those making it to Monday! You got this!

Berkeley Prep KZ – Zach Zinober
Berkeley Prep SS - Antonio Souchet and Kyle Shah
Little Rock Central LP – Akshay Padala

Join us this summer at RKS! www.rksatwfu.org

04/24/2022

Congratulations to our RKS alumni at the Tournament of Champions!

You’re killing it! Wishing you continued luck and success!

We build champs at the RKS.

Join us this summer! www.rksatwfu.org for more info.

TOC Policy Teams with RKS Alumni:

Berkeley Prep KZ – Zach Zinober
Berkeley Prep SS - Antonio Souchet and Kyle Shah
Berkeley Prep TZ – Peter Zinober and Nikhil Tirupathi
Georgetown Day BL – Addie Lowenstein
Head-Royce AC – Dylan Chan and Richard Arney
James Logan BM - Emilio Menotti
James Logan RS – Umar Shaikh and Eshaan Rawat
Lawrence Free State PR – Aj Persinger
Leon Goldstein BE – Aidan Etkin
Lexington TI – Vinit Iyer
Little Rock Central LP – Akshay Padala
McDonogh JN – Josh Na and Alex Jones
Northview IS – Juliette Salah
Sonoma JM – Jack Jacobs and Mateo Mijares
Bronx Sci CE – Carolyn Chui and Alex Eum
VHTPA SB – Andrew Subingsubing

LD Teams of RKS Alumni:

Little Rock Central MG – Michelle Gong
Perry JA – Joey Antonelli
Sammamish LW - Lydia Wang
Stockdale GS – Glen Scully

And Qualifying!
Evergreen Valley SS - Saurish Srivastava

And congrats to the CEDA College Champs (and RKS alum) Dimarvin Puerto and Asya Taylor!

GET IT Y'ALL!

We hope you too will spend some time thinking and growing with us on the Wake Forest campus. Find info and app at www.rksatwfu.org

03/17/2022

The RKS experience is back face to face! June 26 - July 31.

- No-Lab Lab in its full glory
- Cutting-edge argumentation
- Signature Files
- Debate your lab leaders
- Phenomenal lectures and guest speakers
- Customized experience

If you can’t do in person, no worries. There are online sessions too.

To apply and learn more, go to www.rksatwfu.org

Unlike any other debate camp in the country, the RKS practices what we call the “No-Lab Curriculum.” The No-Lab Curriculum is a dynamic, collaborative, and adaptive structure that balances skills development, intellectual growth, and healthy living.  Other camps are organized through the format...

05/18/2021

RKS would like to congratulate Daryl Burch for his recent induction into the Tournament of Champions Coaching Hall of Fame!!

DB was recognized for his coaching, debate championships, leadership, mentoring, and most importantly for revolutionizing debate on topics such as social justice. He is also known for breaking barriers for students of color in the formerly segregated arena of debate.

“He is everything the Hall of Fame is meant to acknowledge. He’s one of the most successful policy debate coaches ever and he’s done it at all levels,” said Director of the TOC Dave Arnett in presenting the award. “For 30 years his teams have been fiercely competitive and innovative in their style and approach to debate.”

Arnett continued, “He is a committed educator and one of the leaders in our community on issues of racial and social justice. Through his team’s arguments, judging, teaching during the summer, and presence in our lives, Daryl has helped to educate, open our eyes, and push our community and world to be better. His commitment to inclusion in debate has made him a hero.”

There are still a few spots open at the RKS - Come work, grow, and be inspired with DB this summer!

RKS 2021 goes from June 20 to August 1.

Our faculty includes Daryl Burch, Dr. Shanara Reid-Brinkley, Dr. Calum Matheson, Dr. Amber Kelsie, Taylor Brough, Ignacio Evans, and Beau Larsen.

Learn more about the RKS at https://www.rksatwfu.org/rks-online-1 or contact [email protected] for more information!

05/03/2021

Congrats to Dr. Amber Kelsie!

Congratulations to Coach Dr. Amber Kelsie on being awarded the Reinsch/Pierce Family Faculty Fellowship for the next three years! This award is given to a superior teacher-scholar in the field of Communication. Wake Debate is lucky to have such a quality scholar-teacher-coach, happy to see that others recognize Amber's quality work as well. Go Deacs-Congrats Amber Kelsie!

02/23/2021

The RKS would like to take a moment to congratulate our alumni on a stellar performance at the Barkley Forum!

Zach Zinober (Berkeley Prep) - 19th Speaker
Jazmyn Luckett (SF Roosevelt) - 18th Speaker
Alistair Simmons (Georgetown Day School) - 7th Speaker

Double Octafinalists:
Berkeley Prep SS (Souchet & Shah)
SF Roosevelt TL (Luckett & Torguson)
Northview AI (Afre & Ippagunta)

Ocatfinalists:
Lexington BY (Berhe & Yang)
Berkeley Prep KZ (Kapadia & Zinober)
Coppell CK (Chinatalapudi & Kashyap)

Quarters:
North Broward DR (Deo & Rabbini)

And huge congrats to Glenbrooks South JM (Jacobs & Majeed) for their finals showing!

Join us this summer at the RKS! The applications for summer 2021 can be found at https://www.rksatwfu.org/apply. To see our sessions and learn more about the unique RKS experience, visit https://www.rksatwfu.org. If you have any questions, please reach out to [email protected].

01/25/2021

"We did not anticipate having to move the RKS online last summer, but our approach is especially suited to facilitate intimate and collaborative environments in changing conditions".

The adaptive and collaborative approach of the RKS means that we are prepared to weather the challenges of online debate. RKS Online delivers the same content and form, only adapted for the times-- come to RKS for the best lectures, prestige practice rounds against your instructors, and produce signature files for the year.

RKS 2021 goes from June 20 to August 1.

Our faculty includes Daryl Burch, Dr. Shanara Reid-Brinkley, Dr. Calum Matheson, Dr. Amber Kelsie, Taylor Brough, Ignacio Evans, Beau Larsen, Anthony Joseph, and Reed Van Schenck.

Learn more about the RKS at

We did not anticipate having to move the RKS online last summer, but our approach is especially suited to facilitate intimate and collaborative environments in changing conditions. RKS online delivers the same content and form adapted for the times — debate your instructors, create signature files...

05/11/2020

RKS is now online! Due to the sweeping changes brought about by COVID-19, we unfortunately have had to switch things up for the 2020 summer. But don’t fret, we’ve got a great online workshop for those who still want to think and work with the best. Our curriculum and no-lab lab organizational model has been adapted so that you can get the most out of your summer.

Here’s what we’ve got cooking:

• Powerhouse Faculty Are Still Here – Daryl Burch, Dr. Calum Matheson, Dr. Shanara Reid-Brinkley, Dr. Amber Kelsie, Taylor Brough, Ignacio Evans, and Beau Larsen are your faculty line-up! Come to RKS, work with the best.

• We are Keeping our Model – The sessions are the same. Everyone is still your lab leader, No-Lab Lab is in effect, Signature Files, Big Tent Approach, Demo Debates with the greats, incredible lectures, and end-of-camp tourney are all here.

• Synchronous and Asynchronous Lectures and Work Time - We are not just going to breakout after you’ve watched a video. We are adapting our schedule to make sure we get to talk about concepts as they are presented. And built-in Office Hours mean you get to work one-on-one (or partnership-on-one) on what’s important to you.

• Process over Product – We’re still practicing concepts as we introduce them. We are doing tons of practice debates, drills, mini debates, and redo’s so you get a lot of excellent feedback and time to test out new skills and arguments. Each debater will also have their own document with continually updated written feedback to accompany verbal feedback so you can track your growth.

• Guest Lectures and Electives – Our lecture line-up is incredible, and you’ll be able to select additional lectures for deeper exploration.
Besides for the usual laptop stand or timer/cell phone, you don’t need much additional tech:
- Computer/Laptop
- Headset/Microphone – a gaming headset works
- Camera – the one built-in to your laptop is fine
- Internet connection
- A space to work on debate

Our price is $600/week for online RKS. Check out www.rksatwfu.edu to apply and learn more about our workshop!