ABOR announces 2024 Regents’ Cup judges

The Arizona Board of Regents today announced the participation of over 40 judges for the fifth annual Regents’ Cup, a tri-university speech and debate competition celebrating free speech.

The Regents’ Cup honors participants for articulating different points of view in an environment where competitors remain civil and respectful. This year’s judges represent a wide range of industries – elected officials, business and community leaders, journalists and educators. Find the 2024 Regents’ Cup judges here.

“Regents’ Cup judges may come from different backgrounds and opposite sides of the aisle, but the one thing they have in common is respect for the First Amendment and civility in their exchange of ideas,” said Regent Doug Goodyear, who serves as regent advisor for the event along with Regent Larry E. Penley. “We are honored to have these civil, business and industry leaders volunteer their time to serve as judges in our fifth annual Regents’ Cup.” 

This year’s competition – centered around the theme of “Democracy, Justice and the Rule of Law” – is on March 23, 2024, at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University. 

Participating student teams from ASU, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona are honing their debate skills and crafting persuasive stories with expert guidance from coaches at each university. Find the 2024 Regents’ Cup student participants here.

Through the generous support of the 2024 Regents’ Cup sponsors, first, second and third place winners in the debate and storytelling categories earn $15,000, $12,000 and $5,000 scholarships respectively. All other team members receive a $500 scholarship. Sponsors include:

• Arizona Public Service, Platinum Sponsor 
• Helios Education Foundation, Platinum Sponsor
• Salt River Project, Gold Sponsor 
• University of Arizona, Center for Philosophy of Freedom, Gold Sponsor 
• Arizona Community Foundation, Silver Sponsor 
• Arizona Center for Civic Leadership, Flinn Foundation, Bronze Sponsor 
• Tucson Electric Power, Bronze Sponsor

Arizona’s public universities are exemplars in free speech and are recognized by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education with the highest free speech rating.

To experience the Regents’ Cup, watch last year’s storytelling winner here and the Oxford debate winner here.