About Us

Bluegrass Youth Debate is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provide accessible forensic education for middle and high school students. Based in Lexington, our founders realized that Kentuckians have had little representation on the national stage from not having the same resources as larger and more educated states. Our founders, as nationally competitive debaters, firsthandly witnessed the disparity between students from well-funded programs and those without early access to debate education. From a young age, nationally competitive debaters have had opportunities to hone their skills and compete, but no elementary or middle school in Lexington offers debate. Bluegrass Youth Debate recognizes the importance of educational debate in teaching lifelong civic engagement, collaboration and community, research skills, and ethics. Specializing in local workshops with our middle school and public library partners, as well as virtual classes for high school students nationwide, Bluegrass Youth Debate works to ensure that money and location is not an inhibiting factor in a student’s forensics journey. We aim to provide resources to all students and spread comprehensive debate across the country. Bluegrass Youth Debate is cultivating the next generation of thinkers, advocates, and leaders.

Our Values

Education

Bluegrass Youth Debate provides comprehensive education without sacrificing quality. Our faculty only consists of state-ranked and nationally competitive debaters who put in hours each competition season to create unique curriculums to teach to our students.

AccessibilitY

Bluegrass Youth Debate strives to be an available and high-quality resource for all forensics students, regardless of location, income, and age. We specialize in virtual resources for young students that reach nationwide, with our resources and coaching always being free.

CharitY

Bluegrass Youth Debate is committed to giving to the community. Annually, our founders host a charity speech and debate tournament with their school, amassing thousands of dollars for Eastern Kentucky flood victims and the homeless population. We aim to cover registration costs for our middle school debaters.

Our Team

Co-Founder and CEO

Ayesha Hamid

Ayesha Hamid is going into her fourth year of Lincoln Douglas Debate. She is a two-time Kentucky State Champion and Finalist, as well as a NCFL National Qualifier. She is a Girls Nation Senator and has mentorship experience through Carnegie Center and 21st Century Debate, as well as public speaking experience as Beta Club Secretary, French National Honor Society Executive Board, HOSA Treasurer, and as a 2x State Runner-Up in TSA Audio Podcasting. She is a member of the Speech Team with experience in Oratory.

Co-Founder and Co-President

Maitri Patel

Maitri Patel is going into her third year of Public Forum Debate, but she has been debating since seventh grade. She is a Kentucky State Champion and Semifinalist in Public Forum, as well as a NCFL National Qualifier. She has mentorship experience through 21st Century Debate and founding her school-based mentorship program, COMPASS. She is a member of Beta Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Heart Club, and a Editor-In-Chief of her school's newspaper.

Co-Founder and Co-President

Ahaan Thomas

Ahaan Thomas is going into his fourth year of Congressional Debate. He is a Kentucky State Champion and two-time finalist in Congress. He is a three-time class president and member of the Speech Team, where he competes in Declamation and Extemporaneous Speaking. He is a member of Science National Honor Society, founder of Heart Club, has tutoring experience with the Lexington Public Library, and is a buddy for the TOPSoccer program. He attended SSP and plays soccer for his school and on a club team at Lexington Sporting Club.

Secretary

Hannah Kang

Hannah Kang is going into her fourth year of Public Forum Debate. She is a Kentucky State Champion and Semifinalist in Public Forum, as well as a NCFL National Qualifier. She is a nationally competitive viola player as the Principal Symphony Violist of Central KY Youth Orchestra, mentor for Friends in Music, and three-time All-State Symphony Orchestra player. She is her school's Beta Club Convention Chair, HOSA Founder, a 2x State Runner-Up in TSA Audio Podcasting, and a member of the Speech Team.

Treasurer

Kishan Amin

Kishan Amin is going into his fourth year of Congressional Debate. He is a Kentucky State Finalist in Congress. In school, he is the president of BETA Club and a member of French National Honor Society and the state-champion Academic Team. He has prior mentorship experience through tutoring at his local temple and founding the Future Scholars Association, a tutoring club at school. He is a member of the Speech Team, having experience in Declamation and Extemporaneous Speaking.