Members of the national champion Rutgers University-Newark Debate Team will sit in a place of honor -atop a float - during the May 11 Creation National Art & Peace Parade through downtown Newark.
Their victory marked the first time the university's debate team has won a national debate championship since its founding in 2008. The debate team offers pathways to college for debaters from NPS and other Newark schools.
In praising the team's accomplishment, Rutgers University - Newark Chancellor Nancy Cantor stated, "It is hard to overstate the magnitude of this achievement. In a sense, it is not a surprise to us because we know the brilliance of our debaters, the dedication, experience, and wisdom of our coaches, and the unbelievable strength and tradition of the Newark Public Schools debate program from which so many of our champion debaters have come." She also noted, "It speaks volumes about the incredible talent found in Newark, as well as cities like it. In that sense, our debaters' accomplishment must be taken as both an incredible achievement for them personally and a clarion call to us all about what we have to gain by cultivating the talent right in front of us. We could not be more proud of them."
The 10th annual Creation Nation Art & Peace Parade will leave from Military Park, 51 Park Place, at 2 PM, and end there at 3 PM, followed by a Youth Arts Festival in Military Park. This year's parade commemorates "Newark 50 Years Forward," and embraces three themes: 50 years of progress since the historic 1967 civil unrest; the promotion of peacekeeping through partnerships between communities and police; and a public celebration to "Save the Arts," recognizing the blossoming of art and culture in Newark.
PhotoCaption: The Rutgers Debate Team: (l-r) Nahshon Thomas, Luis Carrera, Willie Johnson, Devane Murphy (holding Championship Trophy), Chaz Wyche, Nicole Nave (holding her 1st place speaker award); Ryan Wash, Christopher Koza and Carlos Astacio Photo credit: Joe A. Getto