{"id":74577,"date":"2025-04-14T16:02:31","date_gmt":"2025-04-14T23:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=74577"},"modified":"2025-04-14T16:17:45","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T23:17:45","slug":"regents-cup-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/regents-cup-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"NAU team has best-ever finish at Regents&#8217; Cup"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Northern Arizona University had its best finish ever at the sixth annual Regents\u2019 Cup, with <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Courtney Hoffman<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Karli VanderMeersch<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> winning the Oxford debate competition and <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hayder Alainizi<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> taking third place in storytelling.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hoffman is studying philosophy, politics and law; VanderMeersch, who is the ASNAU president and member of the Honors College, is getting dual degrees in psychological sciences and criminology and criminal justice. Alainizi is a philosophy major.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">NAU\u2019s team was coached by <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sarah Walker<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a speech and debate expert and assistant teaching professor in the School of Communication, and <strong>Russell Pryba<\/strong>, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Philosophy. Other members of the 2025 NAU team were:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Jackline Ballang<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, English literature<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sarah Bates<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, hotel and restaurant management\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Collins Chukwunonso Ezea<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, applied sociology<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Trinity Hamilton<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, psychology<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Charis Hayward<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, journalism<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"6\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Shelby Kalil<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, communication<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"7\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sage Kaminski<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, psychological sciences<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"8\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Catherine Kirchoff<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, university studies: clarinet and German<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"9\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Augustine Obasi<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, MFA in creative writing<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"10\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Miguel Angel Soto Pachuca<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, philosophy<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"11\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emma Prater<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, criminology and criminal justice<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"12\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Zachary Tolson<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, philosophy, politics and law<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"13\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Kaela Wilson<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, philosophy<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/photos.app.goo.gl\/o6hkZD29MMeqfMTp8\">See photos from the event, held Saturday at the Flagstaff Mountain campus.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Hoffman, who said the students spent about six hours a week for several months preparing, chose to participate because she wanted to make sure her voice was heard. She and VanderMeersch had already worked together in Mock Trial, so their partnership on the debate stage was easy. They did disagree\u2014amicably, and fully discussed with all points heard and acknowledged\u2014on font size. The two had a great partnership, she said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This year&#8217;s topic was the social contract, and as a philosophy student, this concept means a lot to me on a personal level,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Getting to compete in the Oxford Debate and expressing why the rights of the people need to be protected will be something I remember for the rest of my life.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The theme is also what attracted VanderMeersch, who said the social contract reflects how people define their responsibilities to others in a shared society. This gave her extra appreciation for Walker and Pryba, the rest of the team and the members of the NAU community who supported the Regents&#8217; Cup team.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Winning together was surreal,&#8221; VanderMeersch said, noting the relationship she and Hoffman already had. &#8220;I remember holding her hand, trying to hold myself together, when they called our names. I am so grateful to have had her as my debate partner through this all; I honestly would not have been able to do it without her.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Regents&#8217; Cup is a signature initiative of the Arizona Board of Regents&#8217;, using collegial competition to promote free speech and civil discourse.\u202f<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.azregents.edu\/news-releases\/meet-2025-regents-cup-judges\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Judged by a panel of 50<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u202festeemed professionals, the event is designed to foster critical thinking, creativity and a deeper respect for problem solving through civil discourse.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><a class=\"search-results-excerpt-link\" href=\"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/regents-cup-2025\/\">Northern Arizona University had its best finish ever at the sixth annual Regents\u2019 Cup, with Courtney Hoffman and Karli VanderMeersch winning the Oxford debate competition and Hayder Alainizi taking third place in storytelling.\u00a0 Hoffman is studying philosophy, politics and law; VanderMeersch, who is the ASNAU president and member of the Honors College, is getting dual&hellip;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":59,"featured_media":74580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-74577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus-community"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74577","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/59"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74577"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74577\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74577"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74577"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74577"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}