Scholarships

We are proud to offer three categories of scholarship to attend WDI:

  1. The WDI Scholars Program
  2. Julia Burke Foundation Scholarships
  3. The Guevara Scholarship

To apply for a scholarship, please fill out our scholarship form (pdf), and send it and any supplementary materials to Aleava Sayre.


WDI Scholars Program

WDI Scholars are outstanding high school debaters who will attend the WDI as guest lecturers. They will also conduct a demonstration debate with the staff of the WDI. Each scholar will receive free tuition to the WDI and a $200.00 travel stipend to cover any transportation costs associated with getting to the WDI.

Eligible applicants for the WDI Scholars program are girls who have been debating for at least one year and who will be either sophomores or juniors in high school during the school year that they apply. Each year, the WDI Board of Directors will select one LD and two policy debaters to be WDI Scholars. The Board of Directors will consider debate success, academic success, community involvement, and diversity in its selection of WDI Scholars.

If you know someone who you believe should be a WDI scholar, you can nominate them by sending their name and a description of why they should be a scholar to womensdebateinstitute@gmail.com


Julia Burke Foundation Scholarships

This year, the Julia Burke Foundation is generously supporting 10 full tuition scholarships. To qualify, an applicant must demonstrate financial need and a commitment to debate.  Our most sincere thanks to the Julia Burke Foundation! Please read more about their mission and activities.

Interested debaters should send our scholarship form,  a letter of recommendation from a teacher or debate coach, and a personal statement of financial need to Aleava Sayre.


The Guevara Scholarship

The WDI is proud to announce the Guevara Scholarship, sponsored by Omar and Veronica Guevara. This full-tuition scholarship is dedicated to promoting the involvements of women of hispanic heritage (broadly defined) and/or women raised by a single parent or from a working-class background. Omar is the Director of Forensics at Weber State University, and he and Veronica have been leaders in making our community more inclusive and tolerant. The WDI strives to increase the participation of women of color in debate, and we are honored to offer this opportunity to our students.

Interested debaters should send our scholarship form, a letter of eligibility, and letter of recommendation from a coach or teacher to Aleava Sayre.  Your letter of eligibility should address your Hispanic heritage and your financial need.