[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Senate]
[Page 7739]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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         RECOGNIZING THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY-NEWARK DEBATE TEAM

 Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 
Rutgers University-Newark senior debate team of Nicole Nave and Devane 
Murphy as they celebrate back-to-back national championships with their 
victories at the National Debate Tournament, NDT, and the Cross 
Examination Debate Association National Tournament this year.
  Last year, I stood on this floor to recognize Rutgers University-
Newark's victory at the National Debate Tournament at the University of 
Missouri-Kansas City. This year, I am extremely proud to be here once 
again congratulating Rutgers-Newark on another collegiate National 
Debate Tournament championship. This is truly an impressive and 
historic accomplishment. It is only the second time in collegiate 
debate history that the same team has won both national championships 
in a single year.
  In addition to the national championship, Nicole Nave and Devane 
Murphy were also honored individually at the National Debate Tournament 
this year. Devane was named the NDT's top speaker, and Nicole received 
the NDT second place speaker award. At this year's Cross Examination 
Debate Association National tournament, Nicole earned a record-
shattering five perfect scores out of eight. Nicole and Devane, the two 
best collegiate debaters in America, use their life experiences to 
shape their uniquely Rutgers-Newark debate style, one which has led the 
Rutgers University-Newark team to remain ranked as the No. 1 team in 
the Nation.
  The Rutgers University-Newark debate team, founded in 2008, is 
sponsored by the school of public affairs and administration and the 
office of the chancellor, Newark. Under the leadership of Rutgers 
University-Newark chancellor Nancy Canton, debate director Christopher 
Kozak, and debate team head coach Willie Johnson, the team has been 
ranked first in the Northeast for 4 consecutive years. In the 2014-2015 
year, the team was ranked 14th nationally. Nicole, Devane, and the rest 
of the Rutgers University-Newark debate team have brought pride to my 
beloved city of Newark and to the entire State of New Jersey. I am 
honored to join with these outstanding students, their families, and 
the Rutgers University-Newark community in celebrating another landmark 
achievement in the Rutgers University-Newark debate team's history.
  Thank you.

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