Ottawa Debate Makes History
There’s something pretty special happening on the campus of Ottawa University, and if you weren’t paying attention, you might have missed it. Oftentimes, athletics get the highlight, but over the past few weeks, it’s the college’s debate team that has been making headlines.
Ottawa’s chapter of Pi Kappa Delta dates all the way back to 1913, the inaugural year of the organization itself. That’s a legacy most programs would hang their hat on. But what this current group is doing isn’t just honoring history; rather, they’re building something new on top of it. Five students from Ottawa made the trip to the 2026 national competition, stepping into a field packed with hundreds of competitors from some of the largest programs in the country, like Louisiana State University, University of California, San Diego, Ohio State University, and Boise State University. The expectation going in? Grind through 20 debates and, if things broke right, maybe come away with a couple wins. Over the course of the competition, they didn’t just exceed expectations—they rewrote them.
Ottawa brought home a national championship, winning the Team International Public Debate Association title! This is a two-person team format that emphasizes quick thinking, collaboration, and clear, persuasive argumentation. Aaron Ruby and Eli Burtrum were the two students who put Ottawa in the winners' circle, pulling together the kind of performance that puts a program on the map. The neat part is that this wasn’t a senior-led group making one last run. There are zero seniors on this team. None of these students even had high school debate experience. Everything they’ve built has happened right here, on campus, often while balancing athletics and everything else that comes with college life.
At their end-of-year showcase Wednesday night, I got to see firsthand how this team operates (picture here). The demonstrations across different event styles highlighted the level of preparation, quick thinking, and real-time adaptability it takes to compete at that level. As an alum, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride watching that unfold and knowing what’s being built on campus right now. Also, a bit of regret that I didn’t partake when I was studying on campus! A lot of credit goes to Dr. Jordie Smith, whose leadership is clearly shaping not just competitors, but communicators and leaders. For a program with roots going back over a century, it feels like this group is just getting started.
On the Road
Makayla and I are taking a long weekend in Colorado, visiting some family in Denver. JieJie and Sherri are holding down the fort today and have written up their experience at the Chamber Ribbon Cutting with Haley Ward and American Family Insurance. There’s nothing better than having a great team surrounding you. I’ll let them share below:
Welcoming Ward & Associates - American Family Insurance
Even though the weather was a bit gloomy this morning, the atmosphere inside Ward & Associates, American Family Insurance was anything but! We had a fantastic turnout celebrating Haley Ward at her Open House & Ribbon Cutting. (Pictures Here)
Haley brings over 10 years of experience in the insurance industry, offering a wide range of coverages including Commercial, Home, and Auto. Her top priority is making sure individuals and businesses in our community are properly protected. She goes above and beyond by reviewing policies to ensure clients truly have what they need, whether they’re insured through her or not. She is supported by her dedicated team members, Jerica and Morgan, and is currently looking for one more to grow her team. If you’re interested in a career in sales, she encourages you to reach out! You can reach her by shooting her an email HERE.
Coming from a small town herself, Haley has a deep appreciation for rural communities and a strong passion for serving them. Since opening her office last September, she has been eager to get involved locally. Now that she’s more settled in, she’s excited to give back and is actively seeking opportunities to sponsor and support community organizations. Make sure to reach out to her if you know of a great way she can get involved locally! Email HERE. Outside of being an agent, she is a proud wife and mother of two! When she's not running her agency, you can often catch her cheering her kids on from the sidelines!
You can find her office at 2232 S King St in Ottawa. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Her team is also available by phone Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Be sure to stop by, say hello, and welcome Haley to the community!
JieJie Matthias - Community Liaison
We hope you and your family have a blessed and great weekend!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
