Florida to award Charlie Kirk Prize to high school debate winner, partners with TPUSA – KBAK
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by Sophie Pendrill
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SARASOTA, Fla. (CBS12) — In an initiative to boost speech and debate among high school students, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the launch of the Charlie Kirk Prize, featuring significant scholarships for top competitors.
"Charlie was, I mean, he was beating the bushes in Florida like for a long time before he became really well known. He developed a big following in this state, particularly with a lot of contributors, in different parts of the state, and even lived in this community, here in Sarasota, for a time. So we were proud to be able to do that, in memory," DeSantis said.
DeSantis said that this competition, designed to empower young voices and encourage civic engagement, is set to draw over 600 participants in April 2026.
At a news conference on Monday at the New College in Sarasota, DeSantis revealed the scholarship breakdown: the winner of the Charlie Kirk Prize will receive a $50,000 scholarship, while the runner-up will earn $25,000. Semi-finalists will be awarded $15,000 each, and quarter-finalists will each receive $10,000, making it one of the most rewarding debate competitions in the state.
DeSantis said that the prizes will be awarded through private donations from the Florida Education Foundation, with hopes to memorialize Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated while speaking at a Turning Point USA event at Utah State University on September 10.
DeSantis expressed pride in this growth, highlighting the importance of fostering debate skills among students across all 67 counties in the state.
The upcoming championship will take place at New College on April 5, 2026. In addition to the scholarships, the top two competitors will also receive invitations to compete in the national Ronald Reagan presidential debate in California.
See also: Proposed bill requires FL colleges to rename roads for Charlie Kirk or risk losing funds
Furthermore, DeSantis announced a partnership with Turning Point to launch "Club America" chapters in Florida high schools.
This student-led organization aims to empower students to advocate for American values, free enterprise, and limited government, per DeSantis.
"We want every student to have the opportunity to participate in these invaluable discussions without facing discrimination," DeSantis said.
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