"Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year" Award

We are forever indebted to Ted Belch for helping us to establish the Golden Desert Tournament as one of the premier high school debate tournaments on the west coast.  To recognize his contribution to our tournament, and to the high school debate community in general, we are proud to announce the creation of the “Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year” award. Beginning in 2016 and each year moving forward with the Golden Desert tournament, we plan to honor one coach as the "Ted Belch Coach and Educator of the Year."

 Award nominations submitted Friday January 22, 2016 by coaches, debaters, and debate alumni will all be accepted and be evaluated by the Golden Desert tournament awards committee. Nomination letters may be sent to Dr. Jake Thompson by email at jacob.thompson@unlv.edu with the words “TED AWARD NOMINATION” in the subject heading. Nominees should be active coaches in competitively successful high school debate programs who are committed to student education and who are coaching mentors.