2026 Aim To Elevate

Community and Alumni Judges - Orientation will start at 8:15am, to be ready for round 2 and later rounds. Judge Orientation will take place 45 minutes before each round.

NOTE: There is no judge orientation for Round 1. Please arrive an hour before the judging slot you signed up for.

Thank you for your willingness to participate as a Judge!

COMMUNITY JUDGE QUALIFICATIONS:
~ Judges are considered non-participants who are 18 years or older and have graduated from high school.
~ Usually includes friends of competitor's parents, their co-workers, extended family members, or neighbors.

Alumni JUDGE QUALIFICATIONS: 

You have an insight that the rest of us don't because you've done this! Your expertise and experience is highly valued.

If you were ever judged by an alumni while in Stoa, remember the impact they made on you and that you couldn't wait to read their ballot. We do request that since you were once where these competitors are today that you read the following:

• Refrain from disclosing your judging results, we know some you are freshly graduated from Stoa competitions or you still may have siblings in the league

• Please judge them with respect and send them along their way to the next event.

• You should not find yourself judging in the room of a student who you competed against last year, or have coached within a year, or have a bias for or against, or that is your sibling.

• HIGHLY recommended that alumni attend an orientation.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW...

Check the schedule for the debates by clicking on the schedule tab on the left margin.

If a competitor has invited you, we ask that you indicate that by typing their name in the Recruited By box so as to keep the integrity of the judging pool pure.

Head over to the judge orientation room. There will be a training session to be held one hour before your scheduled round. The round you judge will last approximately 45-90 minutes. After the round, please allow 30-45 minutes to fill out your ballot and enjoy refreshments prepared for you. Approximately set aside 3 hours for this endeavor. Due to time constraints, it is not feasible to judge 2 rounds consecutively. Judging every other round is easily done.

PREVIEW: Some of you may like a bit of prep before then so the following are links you may review prior to attending judge orientation:

About Stoa ~ https://www.stoausa.org/about

For a description of Debate events ~ https://www.stoausa.org/event-descriptions

We hope this will familiarize you with the league and the events. The Judge Orientation at the tournament will answer other questions you may have.

Again, thank you for your support and willingness to judge!