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Jadon Buzzard

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Jadon Buzzard is currently pursuing a PhD in Economics at Cornell University. An alumnus of Hillsdale College, Jadon received his Bachelor’s degree in Economics (with honors) in 2021 with a minor in Philosophy, after which he received a Master’s degree in Applied Economics at Montana State University.

A formidable collegiate debater, Jadon holds a total of 12 finalist & national awards from his time at Hillsdale. As the manager of the Hillsdale debate team for two years, Jadon won the 2021 PKD National Championship in parliamentary debate his senior year, only losing a single ballot during the entire tournament. As a freshman, he ranked top 16 in the nation at the 2018 NFA-LD national championship, and he won the Best Newcomer Award at Hillsdale College that same year. With six 1st-place finishes, eight finals finishes, and a host of other debate awards, he’s won Hillsdale College over 40 trophies during his college career.

Coaching Philosophy

“In terms of return on time investment, there are no other activities in existence that can provide more educational value than competitive, academic debate. Forensics motivates students to efficiently absorb information more than any class ever could, but it only does so because students love it. Debate channels the inherent competitiveness in youth into something productive. If you kill the fun of debate, you drastically undermine its efficacy. I look at debate as a game, one that has very strong educational components, but also has a real fun side.

My students see success because I push them to think about argumentation and persuasion in a new light. My coaching focuses on creating strategic avenues to victory by connecting ideas in ways students don’t think to do. My goal is to get students excited about the activity by revealing the complex and oft-overlooked ways in which arguments interact in order to create a coherent and persuasive picture of the world.

I would not be where I am today without competitive debate, and I want to share its benefits with as many individuals as possible.”

Finalist & National Awards (12)

College

1st Place National Champion – Parliamentary Debate, Open Division | 2021 Pi Kappa Delta Championship Tournament (~44 teams competing)

  • Undefeated preliminary record (4-0).
  • Awarded first-place speaker in every preliminary round.
  • Swept finals on a 5-0 decision.

1st Place – Parliamentary Debate, Varsity Division | 2020 Cyber Falcon Tournament @ Bowling Green University (~21 teams in varsity)

  • Undefeated preliminary record (4-0).
  • Lost only one ballot in outrounds.

1st Place – Parliamentary Debate, Varsity Division | 2020 Gorlok Gala Tournament @ Webster University (~25 teams in varsity)

  • Swept octos, quarters, semis, and finals, each on a 3-0 decision.
  • Most competitive NPDA tournament in the Midwest.

1st Place – Parliamentary Debate, Varsity Division | 2018 Birds of a Feather Tournament @ Bowling Green University (~18 teams in varsity)

1st Place – Lincoln-Douglas, Varsity Division | 2020 Richard Weaver Debate Tournament @ Hillsdale College (~13 teams in varsity)

  • Won all but 1 ballot over the course of the whole tournament

1st Place – Lincoln Douglas, Varsity Division | Clayton Schug Invitational Tournament @ Penn State University (~13 teams in varsity)

  • Undefeated record, never lost a single ballot.

2nd Place – Parliamentary Debate, Junior Varsity Division| 2018 Gorlok Gala Tournament @ Webster University (~17 teams in junior varsity)

2nd Place – Parliamentary Debate, Open Division | 2017 Birds of a Feather Tournament @ Bowling Green University (~12 teams competing)

National Octofinalist – Lincoln-Douglas, Open Division | 2018 NFA National Championship Tournament

  • This was the national invitational tournament for the National Forensics Association.
  • Placed top 16 in the nation out of over 90 competitors at the national championship.

National Double-Octofinalist – Lincoln-Douglas, Open Division | 2019 NFA National Championship Tournament (>100 teams competing)

National Double-Octofinalist – Lincoln-Douglas, Open Division | 2021 NFA National Championship Tournament (>100 teams competing)

4th-Place Ranking – Lincoln-Douglas, Open Division | 2020 Alexis Elliot Memorial Round Robin @ Western Kentucky University (~top 14 debaters in the league competing)

  • Only the top two competitors from each school could compete in the tournament
  • Equivalent to a top-four national ranking (out of the top 14 debaters in the league)