Back to Listing2025 Regents’ Cup teams selected for tri-university speech and debate competition
Students from ASU, NAU and the U of A will compete in the event celebrating free speech.
The 鶹ѿ announced today the 48 students selected to compete in the 2025 Regents' Cup. The sixth annual tri-university speech and debate competition features students from 鶹ѿState University, Northern 鶹ѿUniversity and the University of Arizona.
Students will participate in multiple rounds of persuasive storytelling and Oxford debate centered around the competition’s theme - “The Government and the People: The Social Contract.” Among this year’s participants are undergraduate and graduate students representing a wide range of college majors – from politics and economics to criminal justice and biology. Find the 2025 Regents’ Cup student participants here.
"The Regents' Cup embodies the values of free speech, civil discourse and respectful exchange of ideas that are fundamental to our democracy," said Regent Doug Goodyear, who serves as regent advisor for the event. "We congratulate the students selected to participate. I am consistently impressed by the talent, passion and dedication of our student competitors, and I have no doubt that this year's event will be just as inspiring.”
Students from the three public universities will participate in team and individual competitions during the event on April 12, 2025, at NAU. The Regents’ Cup honors participants for articulating diverse points of view in a civil manner, and sharing true stories from personal experiences.
The board awards generous scholarships to the winners totaling over $100,000. First-place winners receive $15,000, second-place $12,000 and third-place $5,000. All other team members will receive a $500 scholarship. Volunteer judges include elected officials, business and community leaders, journalists and educators.
Nearly 200 students from ASU, NAU and the U of A applied to represent their respective universities. Teams, led by faculty coaches, will spend the next three months honing their debate skills and crafting persuasive stories.
Arizona's public universities are recognized nationally as champions of free speech. All three institutions continually earn the highest free speech rating from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.