DHAHRAN: A group of three students from American School Dhahran have been named among the top 64 teams worldwide in the 25th annual International Public Policy Forum, a global debate contest sponsored by the Brewer Foundation and New York University.
Jayden Lee, Jiseong Chung and Raahim Lone make up the only team from a school in Saudi Arabia to reach the coveted stage, keeping them in contention for an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City and a grand prize of $10,000.
This year’s competition drew 332 teams from 30 US states and 39 countries, including Pakistan, the UAE, the UK, China and Japan — making it the largest and most internationally diverse qualifying round in IPPF history.
The top 64 teams now enter written single-elimination rounds, exchanging arguments via email to test research depth and written advocacy skills.
This year’s topic focuses on one of the world’s most urgent challenges: the global education crisis.
Teams are debating the following topic: “The Group of 20 Nations should levy a global education tax equal to 1 percent of each member country’s gross domestic product to establish a dedicated international organization that supports the provision of universal, free, quality primary and secondary education.”
William A. Brewer III, chairman of the Brewer Foundation and the IPPF advisory board, said in a statement: “The 25th anniversary of the IPPF is not just a milestone for the program, it is a celebration of the students who make it extraordinary.
“These teams represent a generation eager to engage in public discourse and committed to addressing the issues facing the world they will inherit. The enthusiasm these students bring to the competition reflect a desire to make a difference.”
As the written rounds progress, the field will narrow from 64 teams to the final eight.
These “Elite 8” teams will be invited to debate in person in New York City.
The IPPF Finals will take place on April 18, 2026, at NYU School of Law, where the winners will receive the Brewer Cup.
