East Texas

Lindale High School student Phillip Hayes won the History Whiz Kids Debate last night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and was presented with a $150,000 scholarship check live on the Fox & Friends news program this morning.

“It was an honor from the start to have been selected as one of the > sixteen finalists, and to have won the grand prize is incredible,” Hayes said. “I want to congratulate Malik and would like to thank him, the producers, and the other contestants, all of who made this experience possible. I would like to specifically thank the Templetons, whose support of young people and love of history is truly inspiring. I am especially grateful to my home community, whose encouragement in this endeavor has been humbling. I have always loved history, and this
opportunity has been the experience of a lifetime.”

The debate was the final round of an online reality show competition called “Now Debate This.” Finalists Hayes and Malik Neal of Philadelphia debated whether George Washington or Abraham Lincoln was the better president. Hayes debated on the side of George Washington. He was accompanied by his Lindale ISD speech and debate coach Janice Caldwell.

The winner of the contest was chosen by the National Constitution Center audience and by votes cast from online viewers of the debate, which was seen at www.nowdebatethis.com.

Hayes was among 16 semi-finalists chosen from more than 200 contestants this spring after submitting videos on YouTube. They spent two weeks prior to the debates traveling the United States to explore the principals of America’s founders.

Lindale High School student Phillip Hayes, left, won the History Whiz Kids Debate Tuesday night at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia and was presented with a $150,000 scholarship check live on the Fox & Friends news program this morning. At right is runner-up Malik Neal of Philadelphia.
(Courtesy Photo)