Applications open for 2023 Regents’ Cup

WHAT: Applications are now open for the Arizona Board of Regents 2023 Regents’ Cup, a debate and speech competition celebrating free speech among students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona.

Students earn course credit and compete for scholarships during the competition. Scholarship prizes are $15,000 for first-place winners, $12,000 for second and $5,000 for third with remaining student participants taking home a $500 scholarship.

“Liberty, prosperity and the Constitution” is the theme of this year’s Cup, which includes Oxford and storytelling formats in the tournament.

WHO: The Regents’ Cup is open to all students at Arizona’s public universities. Previous debate experience is not necessary.

Approximately 15 students from each university are selected from the applications to participate in the Cup.

WHEN:  Feb. 24-25, 2023

• Feb. 24 - President’s Reception, 5:30 – 7 p.m.
• Feb. 25 - Regents’ Cup Tournament, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

WHERE: The University of Arizona is hosting the 2023 tournament. The students work with tournament coaches at their universities during the fall and early spring semester to train and prepare for the event.

(Regents’ Cup student team members are compensated for mileage, meals and accommodations to participate in the tournament.)

APPLY: For more information and to fill out an application to participate in the Regents’ Cup, click here.

“The Regents’ Cup reflects the values that our great nation was founded upon, emphasizing their importance and the right of all Americans to freedom of expression and liberty. Throughout the event, our students take part in a competition where opponents treat each other with respect and disagree without becoming disagreeable - admirable traits for all leaders to emulate,” said Regent Larry E. Penley, who is serving as advisor for the event.

Arizona’s public universities are champions of free speech, and the universities are campus-wide, free-speech zones. ASU, NAU and UArizona are all recognized with the highest rating by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.