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Workshop Directors
Jason Sykes, M.Ed., Institute Director
Jason had a very successful policy debate career at the University of North Texas, winning several tournaments, numerous speaker awards, and advancing to the late elimination rounds of more than two-dozen events including the National Debate Tournament in 2002 and 4 CEDA Nationals tournaments, where he was honored as All-American in 2002 and 15th speaker in 2000.
Originally from Nacogdoches, Texas, Jason won several awards in high school including 5th place at NFL Nationals, 2nd place at TFA State, an NFL "Quad Ruby," and 3 UIL District Championships; he also won the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership Award and 3rd place at the state level VFW Voice of Democracy contest. President Clinton honored Jason as a delegate to American Legion Boys Nation in 1995.
Jason has coached at the collegiate and high school levels for the last nine years, and he has worked at several summer institutes. His students are highly decorated across several events; their accomplishments include participation in late elimination rounds in CX, LD, and Congressional Debate at virtually all of the most prominent invitationals and round robins in the country. At the St. Mark's tournament in 2006, Jason was presented with the prestigious Acolyte Award, which is given each year to the outstanding associate debate director in the nation.
Jason founded Mean Green Workshops in 2003, and under his direction the institute has seen tremendous growth. He serves in his 7th year at Grapevine High School, where he is Associate Director of Debate and UIL Academic Coordinator. Jason is a member of the TFA Executive Council through his service as Region II Representative, and he was recently elected to serve on the Lone Star NFL District Committee. In the Fall, Jason will begin teaching in his fifth year at GHS and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Information Science at UNT, where he continues to assist North Texas Debate.
Kandi King, Director of Residential Life
In a world where many debate workshops have college students in charge of residential facilities we are pleased that Kandi King, Director of Debate at San Antonio's Winston Churchill High School has agreed to return as Director of Residential Life at the Mean Green Workshops. Kandi is an experienced educator with over 20 years of experience teaching as well as working at debate institutes that gives her unique perspective on the needs of workshop participants. Kandi has had dozens of state and national level competitors including most recently a national runner up in Lincoln Douglas and a NFL national policy debate top speaker. Her student won the Texas Forensic Association state title in Lincoln Debate in 2004.
Respected by her peers, Kandi is a former Texas Speech Teacher of the Year; State Officer of Texas Forensic Association for 18 years and past President; charter member of the Iowa Summer Debate Institute and is a current member of the National Forensic League Executive Council. We are honored that she has decided to join us again this summer.
Toby Whisenhunt, Co-Director of Residential Life
Formerly an assistant coach at Grapevine High School, Mr. Whisenhunt serves as Director of Debate at Highland Park High School in Dallas, Texas. Toby graduated from Amarillo High School, where he successfully competed in policy debate and numerous individual events. Mr. Whisenhunt graduated from West Texas A&M University having debated four years at the collegiate level. Toby is consistently a favorite staff member among students who attend the workshops. We are excited to have him with us again this summer! |
