Published on September 30, 2025  
Kate Alexander and Sarah Setzler
Kate Alexander and Sarah Setzler

Samford University’s debate team opened its season with a strong performance at the 55th Annual JW Patterson Debates, hosted by the University of Kentucky.

The team of senior Sarah Setlzer and sophomore Kate Alexander competed in the Wildcat Division, finishing the preliminary rounds with a 4-2 record. Their efforts secured them the sixth seed out of 21 teams and a bye through the octofinal round. The duo’s run concluded in the quarterfinals against a top team from the University of Texas.

Along the way, Setlzer and Alexander defeated competitive squads from the University of Oklahoma, Southwestern University and the University of North Texas.

This year’s national debate topic focuses on workers’ rights, with students examining both sides of the resolution: “Resolved: The United States Federal Government should substantially strengthen collective bargaining rights for workers in the United States.”

Derek Hilligoss, director of Samford debate, praised the students’ preparation and commitment.

“I couldn’t be prouder of these two,” Hilligoss said. “Not only earning a place in elimination rounds, but their approach to every round being an educational experience helped them excel this weekend.”

The debate squad now turns its attention to preparing for its next competition, hosted by the University of Minnesota.

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Located in the Homewood suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Samford is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, Samford enrolls 6,324 students from 44 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. Samford is widely recognized as having one of the most beautiful campuses in America, featuring rolling hills, meticulously maintained grounds and Georgian-Colonial architecture. Samford fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second-highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.