The Houston Urban Debate League (HUDL), a nonprofit organization advancing academic debate in Greater Houston schools, has elected Jim Summers and Bill Kelly to its Board of Directors.
Summers, the Chief Executive Officer of H2O Midstream, a provider of water logistics services to the oil and gas industry, joins the HUDL Board after being named HUDL’s Volunteer of the Year for the 2020-2021 academic year. A former high school and collegiate debater, Summers volunteered to judge at HUDL tournaments and mentored students at North Early College High School, including the team that took the city championship in March. “I’m honored to be selected for the HUDL Board, and thankful for the opportunity to give back to an activity that has given so much to me over the years,” said Summers.
Kelly, who serves the City of Houston as Director of Government Relations for the Office of Mayor Sylvester Turner, was a successful high school speech student himself, taking the 5A State Championship in Persuasive Speaking. Kelly has also volunteered with HUDL activities as a judge, including serving as a featured panelist in the IRESOLVE Public Debate Series co-hosted by HUDL and the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues. Said Kelly, “I’m thrilled at the opportunity to serve this board, supporting what I consider transformative programing that HUDL brings to students across our area.”
J.T. Kittrell, Chair of the HUDL Board of Directors, agreed. “I am thrilled to welcome Jim Summers and Bill Kelly to the HUDL Board of Directors. Jim and Bill have demonstrated a belief in both the life-changing power of interscholastic debate and in HUDL’s core mission. I look forward to working with them to ensure that every high school student in Harris County, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status, has the opportunity to join a debate team.”
The Houston Urban Debate League is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that sponsors academic debate programs with the help of its public partners, the Houston Independent School District and the Harris County Department of Education. For more than a decade, HUDL has helped provide funding and volunteer support for debate tournaments, summer programs, and scholarships benefiting Houston-area students, and now serves more than 45 high schools and 10 middle schools.
The HUDL Board congratulates its newest members.