Skip to Content
Whitman College Home Upward Together campaign
Whitman Debate

Debate Scholarship

Students who enjoy rigorous debate in a competitive environment are invited to apply for the Debate Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes incoming students for their talent in debate, regardless of format, as well as related events including Mock Trial, Student Congress and Model United Nations.

What It Means To Be a Scholarship Recipient

Throughout their time at Whitman, recipients must participate in Whitman’s Debate team. Once students begin to develop their skills, they will begin mentoring each other and sharing useful tips. This is important in ensuring new students have a strong social support network.

As part of the Debate team, scholarship recipients will represent Whitman at competitions, plan campus wide debate events, host public debates and volunteer in the Walla Walla community.

Two students working on their laptops wearing Whitman Debate & Forensics sweatshirts.

How to Apply

You will gain access to the scholarship application and materials in the applicant portal after submitting your Whitman admission application. Apply to Whitman.

A brief overview of the required attachments include:

  • A letter describing your experience in debate
  • A letter of recommendation from a debate coach
  • An example of your work in debate (part of a file)
  • A video recording of you debating or speaking (either in competition or practice)
  • A brief statement on why you wish to participate in debate at Whitman

Deadlines

If you are applying Early Decision, your scholarship application is due five days after the application deadline. If you are applying for Regular Decision, you have until Jan. 22, 2027, to get your scholarship application in.

  • Early Decision I Talent Scholarship Application Deadline: Nov. 20, 2026
  • Early Action Talent Scholarship Application Deadline: Dec. 7, 2026
  • Early Decision II Talent Scholarship Application Deadline: Jan. 8, 2027
  • Regular Decision Talent Scholarship Application Deadline: Jan. 22, 2027

Transfer students interested in applying for the scholarship should reach out to Whitman’s Talent Scholarship Coordinator prior to their admission deadline.

Please refer to the Merit and Talent Scholarships webpage for more information. If you have any questions, please reach out to our Talent Scholarship Coordinator at talent@whitman.edu.

Life at Whitman