Thank you for supporting the WDI!
Your donation truly makes a difference in the debate community! Read a few lines from Thank You notes from the WDI class of 2011!
“Thank you for making the opportunity for girls like me to attend WDI. WDI has been my first debate camp. Though I’ve been debating policy for 2 years, there is still much to learn to improve. I want to go into public policy, a field that I know is dominantly male and white. WDI has assured me that a lady can be successful in fields where they are often under-represented. It is programs like this that encourage me to strive to be the best debater and best human being I can be. As an urban minority student, debating nationally has been a struggle. I have always felt at a disadvantage because I didn’t have the advantages that other nationally competitive teams have. My Urban Debate League and WDI have attempted to eliminate that barrier. I have come to terms that no, I may not have an expensive laptop, I may not have the best clothes or the best coach, but I have my mind – a mind capable of changing the world.”
“My time at camp has been wonderful. I never thought I would travel to the Land of 10,000 Lakes (otherwise known as Minnesota). This trip has been one of many firsts: first debate camp, first time on a plane, first time canoeing and first time in a different state. It means the world to me that you were willing to give me such a precious opportunity to not only grow as a debater, but as a person. Many times I feel alienated as a Hispanic working-class woman in debate. The WDI and the people I have met have tremendously helped me use my sex as a strength, not a disadvantage. Thank you so much!”
“I was lucky enough to be chosen as an LD Scholar here at WDI. I am honored to be able to attend WDI before the start of my last season. I would like to thank you for your gracious donation to the Institute. Without individuals like you, this program would not be what it is today. Every time a donation is given, it helps another girls find her place in the debate community. Thanks again.”
“Thank you so much for giving me a scholarship to attend WDI. I have been involved in debate for a year, and I am looking to continue with it for the next three years. I am so grateful for this experience connection to other women in debate. It has been truly amazing. Right now I am planning on continuing on to college, and law school. The fact that a law firm gave me a scholarship to go to a debate camp has really made my aspirations more believable and made me feel as if I can make them come true. Knowing that lawyers in my community care about what I am doing enough to pay for me to attend this camp feels amazing, and has given me a fantastic experience. I cannot thank you enough.”
“Thank you so much for all of your contributions to the WDI. Being a female debater, it’s hard to meet other girls in debate you could really related and connect with. WDI gave me such a great pool of great female debaters to lean on and connect with during this camp. Unlike other camps, it really focused on community. Other camps were really expensive, and I know I would not have been able to come here and participate without a scholarship from your donations to WDI. Thank you so much!”
“These past three days at the WDI have been educational, inspiring, and just plain fun. I’ve really learned not only more about basic policy debate, but specifically how my gender and sex plays into who I am as a debater. From amazing lectures from some great debaters to just enjoy the splendors of our adorable outdoor location, I really, truly love it here. I cannot thank you enough for the gift that you have given me, helping me, my debating career, and life forever more. Thank you.”
“This summer was my first summer at WDI. I had a blast. This is no ordinary debate camp. Debate camp is usually just lectures and long nights of research. WDI is so much more than that. I have never had so much fun before in my life. I have friends back home who debate, but the friends that I made here are beyond amazing! I’m actually a little depressed to graduate this year. WDI gives you this sense of community. The friendships I made are truly long lasting. I can’t wait to run into them later on in the year. I would like to thank you so much for giving me this opportunity to be here this week.”
“Thanks to the scholarship I was able to attend WDI this summer with no tuition. I really appreciate the opportunity I was given. I was able to further learn about the activity I love the most, debate. Thank to individuals like you, women who come from economic limitations are able to become more active with debate. Attending WDI was a memorable experience that has helped me grow as a debater, meet others that share the same passion, and learn strategic tips.”
“I’ve been debating for one year now, and I’m so thankful that I got the chance to be part of the WDI and have this wonderful experience. I learned so much in the last 2 days that I can’t wait to share all the knowledge that I have learned. I personally couldn’t have done this if it wasn’t for your generous donation. I thank you for giving me the chance to learn a lot and just have a great time with other female debaters.”
“Thank you for giving me the chance to attend their camp. It was really fun and I met a lot of interesting girls. I am used to being around lots of people from different environments but meeting other girls who are all interested in debate is so much more cool. Again, thank you for the awesome gift you have given me.”
“Thank you so much for your contribution to the WDI. Debate is the only thing in school that I look forward to, though it isn’t perfect. So far in my time at the WDI they’ve addressed a lot of its imperfections through exposure to other female debaters and recognition of issues that we face. Thank you for making this experience possible.”
“I want to thank you so much for supporting the WDI summer camp program! I’ve heard so much about how amazing you are (at debate and as a person!), and I hope that what I’ve learned from everyone here at the WDI will help me to be more like you. Thank you for making this experience possible for me.”
“To Koinonia Retreat: Thank you for giving WDI a “home away from home” during our camp. This is my 3rd summer attending debate camps all over the country. Part of what made my time at WDI so special was being able to enjoy the beauty of Minnesota in summertime and partake in many outdoor activities. I was also very grateful for the staff: they were friendly and welcoming and made WDI feel more like home than summer camp. Thank you so much for all you have done for the WDI and please know that your kindness and hospitality impacted all of the students and staff.”
“Thank you so much for donating to the WDI. It is such an amazing program and it’s so awesome getting to learn more about debate and getting to know some of the other girls in debate. This has been such a great experience. Thank you for helping to make this happen!”
“I’m going into my third year of debate. Thank you so much for your contributions to the WDI. The program has been a big part of my life for two years now, after coming once before in 2010. I feel that the WDI has opened doors for a true women’s community in the debate world. It has created bonds for women debaters nationally, and your donation allowed me to stay in the community for another year. THANK YOU!”
“Thanks to your donation, I was able to travel to Minnesota and attend WDI. If I had not received the help, I would not have been able to attend due to limited money that flows into my family’s household. Attending WDI was an extraordinary experience and I thank you for giving me the chance to travel here due to the donations and improve as a female debater.”
“You have made it possible for me to attend WDI and I want to thank you. Here I have learned how to be a better young black woman in debate. This isn’t just something for fun; debate is a huge part of my life. It is a way for me to express myself and get my opinion heard. WDI taught me how to be heard as a woman in debate, so thank you.”
“Thank you so much for making it possible for me to return to the WDI this year. I had a great year after going to the WDI last year and I was honored to be a scholar this year. The WDI has always been a place where I could be myself, and this year has only been made more special by your contributions. Thank you again.”
“Of all the unproductive activities I could have spent the past few days of my life, I chose none. Instead, I came all the way to Minnesota to meet other female debaters. Throughout my experience at the WDI, I’ve made some awesome friends from all over the country, learned how to swim, built my confidence as a debater and discovered some tactics to win a debate round. WDI was the highlight of my summer and helped me find a community where I feel completely comfortable. You can rest assured that your donation was in fact an investment in my education. The very fact that you donated money that you didn’t have to makes you an honorable person. This could not have happened without you! I am forever grateful.”
“I want to thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to come to WDI. It has been so fun; I’ve made a lot of wonderful friends here. I’ve debated 1 year. I love love love to play sports, be outdoors and just have fun. The reason I got into debate was because I wanted to grow up and be a lawyer and I thought debate would help with that. I ended up falling in love with debate. I can’t wait for the season to start up. So thank you again for this amazing experience!”
“Thanks for providing me to have this amazing opportunity. It really has made a difference. I am a better debater – stronger – wiser – better – well-educated!”
“I want to thank you for your support. This camp has taught me so much! It has taught so much about being a girl in debate. So thank you again because I wouldn’t be here without you!”
“I am so grateful for your support because it has given me the fantastic opportunity of returning to WDI this year. I can’t express how impactful this camp has been in shaping me as a young woman debater so I will do the next best thing and thank you profusely.”
“Thank you so much for giving me a chance to experience this great opportunity! These four days spent here with tons of other debaters have been so helpful and amazing. I learned so many new techniques and I can’t wait to share them with my debate team back you. Thank you so much!”
“I attended the WDI this summer and I wanted to thank you for the scholarship I received from you to go to Minnesota and participate in the WDI. I had a great time at the WDI, I made a lot of great friends, I had a lot of fun, and most importantly I learned many new things about debate that will help me throughout the year. The WDI was an amazing experience and it was by far the most fun debate camp I have ever been to. Your debate program constantly inspires me to become a better debater. Thank you for your donation to the WDI.”
“Thank you to the JMU Debate Team for giving me the opportunity to come to WDI this summer. I know that my experience at WDI will only positively influence, not only in my debate career but in my life as well which is why I plan on coming back next year. Thanks again for making this possible.”
“WDI has been an amazing experience, full of great mentors and one of the best environments I have been in. I would like to thank you for your support of the Women’s Debate Institute. Debate is a big part of my life for the past two years, but because of financial reasons, WDI 2011 was my first camp. You helped me attend this fantastic camp and I greatly appreciate it. I hope you continue your support of the Women’s Debate Institute because this is honestly one the most important experiences I have had.”
“I want to make it clear how appreciative I am for you giving a young woman debater the opportunity that means so much to me!! I just want to make it clear you didn’t just give me a chance to go to a debate camp: you gave me a chance to experience something I will never forget.”
“Thank you for your giving me the opportunity to become a better debater! It was awesome to come to camp and meet so many people willing to help and so many other debaters excited to learn. I am so happy I get to go to camp (even a short one) despite financial difficulties, and I want to thank you for your giving me the chance to do something I love.”
“Thank you for my scholarship to the Women’s Debate Institute. I have learned a lot about women in debate and have made many new friends. It has been a wonderful opportunity to learn about debate in a community of women. Thank you for this experience.”