OKEECHOBEE – Okeechobee High School Junior Colton Collins won fourth place at the Incubate State Championship held at The Bolles School in Jacksonville on April 28-29.

Incubate Debate organizes no-cost tournaments and workshops for middle and high school students to build knowledge and confidence in appreciation for U.S. democracy.

Incubate Debate Founder James Fishback said hundreds of Florida students competed to attend the tournament, but only 60 were able to.

Students debated topics including the use of AI in classrooms, whether the U.S. should pursue a no-first-use nuclear policy and the environmental benefits of electric vehicles.

“In the final round Colton debated the topic, ‘Is it necessary for the Federal Reserve to keep raising interest rates?’ which he made a compelling argument against,” said Fishback.

Colton’s arguments and delivery awed the judges, which included State Representative Dean Black, Mayor Elaine Brown of Neptune Beach, Economics Professor Madeline Zavodny of UNF, history professors, school board members and city council members. 

“We at Incubate couldn't be prouder of Colton,” Fishback said.