Brewer Foundation Announces Sweet 16 Teams Advancing in IPPF Competition

February 15, 2022 – The Brewer Foundation and New York University are pleased to announce the results of the “Top 32” round of the 21st annual International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). The advancing Sweet 16 teams remain in the running to win a $10,000 grand prize. 

The IPPF is the only contest that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. The competition was founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, a private, non-profit organization funded by companies, individuals and the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors.

“These students analyzed and debated the role of the United States dollar in the world economy,” says William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and a founder of the IPPF. “The 16 teams that remain will compete in another written round of debates – in hopes of advancing to the IPPF Finals in New York City.”

The IPPF’s 21st annual competition began in October, as teams submitted qualifying round essays affirming or negating the IPPF topic, “Resolved: On balance, the hegemony of the United States dollar is detrimental to the world economy.” Those essays were reviewed by a committee, which determined the top 64 teams based on the overall quality of each 2,800-word essay.

In November, the top 64 teams began a single-elimination, written debate competition. Each team was assigned a position (affirmative or negative) and then volleyed papers back and forth with another team via email. A panel of judges reviewed the essays in the order they were presented and selected the winning teams. The Top 32 teams were selected, and then narrowed in another round to the Sweet 16. The Sweet 16 round is now underway.

On March 24, the Elite 8 teams will be announced. The advancing teams will compete in the IPPF Finals on April 30, 2022. The IPPF Finals give students the opportunity to supplement their written scholarship with oral advocacy – competing in debates in front of some of the world’s foremost experts in business, law and politics. The winning team will take home the “Brewer Cup” and the $10,000 grand prize.

To view a list of advancing teams, click here.

International Public Policy Forum Announces Top 32 Teams

January 3, 2022 - The Brewer Foundation / New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) today announced the teams that will advance into the Top 32 round of the 2021-22 competition. Advancing teams will continue to debate the topic, "Resolved: On balance, the hegemony of the United States dollar is detrimental to the world economy." 

Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, the IPPF is the first and only competition that gives students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy. The contest is jointly administered by the Brewer Foundation and New York University, and available to all high school students for free. 

The IPPF begins annually in October, as teams submit a 2,800-word qualifying round essay either affirming or negating the IPPF topic. Judges evaluate each essay, and the top 64 teams advance into a single-elimination, written debate competition.

In the top 64 round, schools volleyed papers back and forth via e-mail. Judges reviewed the essays in the order they were presented (affirmative constructive, negative constructive, affirmative rebuttal, negative rebuttal) and selected the advancing teams. The process will begin anew as the "Top 32" teams compete for their chance to advance to the "Sweet 16" round.

In March, the "Elite 8" teams will be announced. These teams win all-expenses-paid trips to New York City to compete during IPPF Finals Weekend, which begins April 29, 2022. During the finals, teams supplement their written advocacy with oral argumentation. The IPPF World Champion is awarded a $10,000 grand prize. 

To view the list of advancing teams, click here.

Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Programs Hosts Holiday Gathering

On December 11, the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP) hosted a holiday gathering for its students and faculty at The Episcopal School of Dallas. In addition to enjoying a meal and gift exchange, students spoke with FLP Founder William A. Brewer III about their goals and plans for the future. 

Founded in 2001, the FLP provides academic resources and leadership training to deserving students from the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). FLP classes are offered after school on the campuses of the program’s private school partners – The Hockaday School, St. Mark’s School of Texas, Greenhill School, and Episcopal School of Dallas. This public-private partnership is the only one of its kind in the state. 

Brewer Foundation Announces 9/11 Memorial Lights Artwork, Participates in Video Tribute

New York, New York…November 24, 2021 – The Brewer Foundation announced that a special art project it commissioned to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 will soon be on display at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum.

The sculpture piece, “YZKAR,” is a pair of bronze-cast lights created by artist Tobi Kahn from the last known pieces of steel recovered from Ground Zero in New York. The steel pieces were provided to the artist by The Port Authority/Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), in coordination with NYU President Emeritus John Sexton. The memorial lights were previously displayed at the Grey Art Gallery at New York University. YZKAR will be on view at the museum in early 2022.

A video celebrating this historic project can be viewed here: https://www.911memorial.org/connect/blog/gift-lights-tobi-kahns-yzkar.

“The memorial lights offer a tribute to the people whose lives we lost that day – and also represents a promise to never forget them,” says Brewer Foundation Chairman William A. Brewer III. “Working with Mr. Kahn and the many others who made this vision a reality, we believe this art inspires reflection and hope for generations to come.”

Each piece includes a vessel to hold a memorial light. The two pillars in each piece represent the Twin Towers, and the pieces are designed to be lit to commemorate the lives of the many people who were lost on 9/11. An upright, vertical piece represents individual lives lost and the second piece, which extends like an embrace, represents the communal loss.

“I want to thank all who made this work possible, including the Brewer Foundation,” says Kahn. “This work is based on what is the last known artifact from hallowed Ground Zero, honoring our collective sense of loss from the events of that day. This is among the most personal and meaningful projects in which I have ever been involved.”

In collaboration with Mr. Kahn, the Brewer Foundation will sponsor an educational curriculum around the pieces and the project, serving as a catalyst for conversation about the events of 9/11. A lecture series will be offered to the NYU community. The Brewer Foundation will also host an educational program for students from the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program, an academic and leadership development program that lights a path to college for students from Dallas’s urban community.

About The Brewer Foundation

The Brewer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation funded by the support of the Brewer Storefront; the generosity of the law firm Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors; and donor contributions. The Foundation supports a broad range of community initiatives, with a special emphasis on a growing array of educational programs. Among these are the Future Leaders Program (FLP), an academic and leadership development program that benefits minority youth, and the Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF), a global debate contest for high school students. The Foundation has also partnered with leaders in numerous sectors to grow and support its mission.

About Tobi Kahn

Tobi Kahn is a painter and sculptor whose work has been shown in over 40 solo exhibitions and over 60 museum and group shows since he was selected as one of nine artists to be included in the 1985 Guggenheim Museum exhibition, New Horizons in American Art. Works by Kahn are in major museum, corporate, and private collections. For thirty years, Kahn has been steadfast in the pursuit of his distinct vision and persistent in his commitment to the redemptive possibilities of art.

Slovak National Team Students Crowned Champion of International Public Policy Forum Debate Contest

Slovak National Team in Bratislava, Slovakia, bested a field of high schools from around the globe Saturday, May 1, winning the 20th Annual Brewer Foundation/New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition. As the IPPF World Champion, Slovak National Team wins a $10,000 grand prize.

The IPPF is a one-of-a-kind academic collaboration between a law firm’s charitable foundation and a major university. Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, and now jointly administered by NYU, the IPPF is the only competition that gives high school students around the world the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.

The IPPF Finals took place virtually in 2021 for the first time in the competition’s history due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Competing teams were the final “Elite Eight” to emerge from a field of 180 teams, representing high schools in 19 countries and 25 U.S. states. The teams debated the topic: “Resolved: The benefits of artificial intelligence outweigh the harms.”

“Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, these students participated in the IPPF and prevailed – attaining the title of IPPF World Champion,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and founder of the IPPF. “They impressed the judges with their research, writing and advocacy skills as they dealt with the issue of artificial intelligence. We are proud to celebrate the Slovak National Team and the thousands of students who took part in the IPPF’s 20th annual competition.”

In the IPPF Finals, Slovak National Team advanced over Peak to Peak Charter School from Lafayette, Colorado, in the quarterfinal round and Potomac Oak from Rockville, Maryland, in the semifinal round, before facing Montgomery Blair High School from Silver Spring, Maryland, in the IPPF Finals.

The Slovak team was represented by students Martin Janco, Soňa Koniarová, Ema Križanová, Anfisa Kryvtsun, Natália Michalcová, Tereza Okálová, Ina Opartyová, Timotej Oršula, and Mário Valek. The team was coached by Timofej Kožuchov and Samuel Nvota. 

As runner-up team, Montgomery Blair High School receives a $3,500 prize. Coached by Leigh Tinsley, the team members were Jonathan Wen, Alex Jiang, and Shariar Vaez-Ghaemi.

To learn more about the IPPF, visit www.ippfdebate.com. 

Media Reports on Teams Advancing to IPPF Finals

Several media outlets reported on teams of high school students advancing to the International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) Finals, a global debate contest sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University.  

Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner and IPPF founder William A. Brewer III says, “Despite the challenges students around the globe are facing due to the pandemic, these students chose to participate in a rigorous academic competition and have excelled. We look forward to seeing them compete — and celebrating their achievement — during the IPPF Finals.” 

The Troy Times reported that a team from Troy High School in Michigan advanced to the finals, oral debates which will take place virtually.  

“It’s been a unique experience, because we’ve faced three teams so far, and each team has been almost entirely different," said Troy High School senior Sohan Vittalam. "Even if we go in with the same sides, the arguments they make are entirely new, and it’s a very adaptive competition. I think the different viewpoints, you can tell the different things groups prioritize."

Colorado Hometown Weekly reported on a team from Peak to Peak Charter School in Colorado advancing to the finals.    

“I think it was kind of surreal,” said Peak to Peak junior Alvina Zhang. “It was a lot of hours of work and having to have a lot of brainpower and dedication to the essays, so I think it really paid off in the end.”  

Read more here and here.  

Brewer Foundation Hosts FLP COVID-19 Care Package Giveaway

October 20, 2020 - The Brewer Foundation will host its first COVID-19 Care Package giveaway on Saturday, October 24, 2020. Future Leaders Program (FLP) staff and faculty will hand out packages to participating students that include an FLP face mask, hand sanitizer, canned goods and other items. 

Founded in 2001, the FLP is an academic and leadership development program that serves deserving students from the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). The program provides academic resources and leadership development training to select students, ages 14-18, from economically challenged neighborhoods. Students are chosen for the FLP based on their scholastic aptitude, school attendance, civic involvement, and leadership potential. 

A national model of public-private partnership, FLP classes typically take place on the campuses of the program's private school partners – St. Mark's School of Texas, Greenhill School, The Hockaday School and Episcopal School of Dallas. However, due to COVID-19, classes are currently taking place virtually. 

Canadian Students Compete in Brewer Foundation/NYU Debate Contest

The Lake Cowichan Gazette reported on two teams of students from Brentwood College School in Canada advancing to the Top 64 round of the Brewer Foundation/NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition.

The article on January 7, 2020, reported on the teams from the school in Mills Bay, British Columbia, Canada. “If we can make it to the top eight, we’ll get to go to New York for the final competition,” said Brentwood College student debater Mahar Arora, 17. ““It’s pretty exciting because no other team from Brentwood College ever made it this far in this competition.”

The IPPF is the first and only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.

“The IPPF presents an exciting opportunity for high school students to engage in issue-oriented advocacy, competing against some of the best debate teams in the world,” said William A. Brewer, founder of the Brewer Foundation and chairman of the IPPF advisory board.

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