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Godley Independent School District - Empowering Students

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Godley High School debate students A.J. Garcia-Robles and Caitlyn White competed in the UIL Congress State Tournament on January 7-8, 2025, in Austin.

Garcia-Robles, a junior, was among 20 students in Class 4A to advance to the tournament finals held at the Texas State Capitol.  Last year as a sophomore, he qualified for state in both Congress and cross-examination debate.

At the regional contest held Nov. 11 at the Region 11 Education Service Center, Garcia-Robles was the champion while White, a senior, placed fourth to earn their spot in the state contest.

Sponsored by the University Interscholastic League, Congress is an individual contest in a large group setting. It models the legislative process of democracy, specifically, the United States Congress. Within this mock legislative assembly competition, contestants draft legislation (proposed laws and position statements) submitted to the tournament, and they research the docket of bills and resolutions dealing with real-world social and political policies prior to the contest to prepare their speeches. 

At the tournament, students caucus in committees, deliver formal discourse on the merits and disadvantages of each piece of legislation, and vote to pass or defeat the measures they have examined. Parliamentary procedure forms structure for the discourse, and students extemporaneously respond to others’ arguments over the course of a session.

Pictured, left to right, are Caitlyn White, GHS debate coach Jeff Hughes and A.J. Garcia-Robles.

  • Godley High School
  • Speech & Debate