2026 Salt & Light

Welcome to Salt & Light!

Thank you for your willingness to judge at the 2026 Salt & Light speech and debate tournament! We rely on community support to help our tournament run smoothly.  Our students work hard all season to grow in communication, critical thinking, and character — and your feedback is what makes that growth possible! You don’t need any prior experience to judge. We’ll provide simple training and clear instructions when you arrive, and our friendly staff will guide you through every step. We have provided some basic information below.

If you are ready to register, please click in the bottom right corner to register as a judge and choose the times that work best for you. Remember to arrive one hour prior to your round for training. 

Tournament Location

The tournament is being held at First Baptist Church Duluth 2908 Duluth Hwy. Duluth, GA 30096 *Please note that there is a traffic light right in front of the church, but you cannot turn into the church at the light. The entrances to the church are before and after the light.  

Why Judge?

• Short time commitment - It just takes 2-3 hours to judge one round.
• Meaningful impact – Your input and feedback helps shape the next generation of articulate Christian leaders.
• Warm hospitality – Enjoy delicious refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere as our guest.
• Valued contribution - We need you! It is truly not possible for a tournament to exist without the help of community judges.

You are Qualified!

You are qualified to judge! The goal of our competitors is to be able to communicate their ideas clearly and respectfully to anyone. If you are a good listener who is over 18 (over 20 if a Stoa alum), WE NEED YOU! If you are on the fence about whether or not to give community judging a try, watch this short video.

Time Commitment for Judges

Please arrive 1 hour prior to your selected speech and/or debate round in order to receive orientation. This is about a 3 hour time commitment and includes time for check-in, training, judging a round, completing your ballot, and enjoying some delicious refreshments. You are always welcome to judge more than one round!

Tournament Day

During Judge Training, you will be given a good overview of the events and the judging process at the tournament. We have several types of debate and speeches and you will be trained in the event or event category you are registered for. 

On the day of the tournament, please follow the campus signs to the judge check-in table. You will receive an e-mail giving details about check-in, judge orientation, etc. approximately a week prior to the tournament.

Ready to Join Us?

Please click in the bottom right corner to register as a judge and choose the times that work best for you. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for taking the time to invest in the next generation. We truly couldn’t do this without our community.