Competing for the Watkinson/Westfield Debate Team, West Hartford residents took home the winning trophy.

Submitted by Jenni French, Watkinson School

Watkinson School congratulates Patrick Henderson ’20 of West Hartford, one of Watkinson’s Global Studies Program diploma students, for winning the Yale Invitational High School Parliamentary Debate Competition on Sunday, Sept. 15.

Over 20 hours, Patrick and his partner, Ryan Lafferty, also of West Hartford, along with members of the Watkinson/Westfield Debate Team, debated nine rounds, each with a different resolution, and had just 15 minutes to prep each without sources or internet.

Patrick give the final rebuttal in the semi-final round against a California team that was arguing colleges should provide amenities. Ultimately, 17 of the 19 judges voted for them.

Watkinson School is Hartford’s oldest independent day school for grades 6-12/PG. The next info session for prospective families is Oct. 4 at 9 a.m.

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