General Tommy Franks leads “Four Star Debate” leadership program at Oklahoma Christian University


Students from across America who are interested in learning about leadership principles from top policy experts are encouraged to apply for the Four Star Debate program that will take place at Oklahoma Christian University (OC) in Oklahoma City, July 10-15. Friday, April 29 is deadline for application.
 
This year’s program will challenge students with the topic of whether the 50 states in America should adopt a system of school choice for private and public primary and secondary schools. Students interested in participating should apply online at www.oc.edu/fourstar. 

“Four Star Debate: Developing Leaders” with General Tommy Franks is a leadership development, debate and communications program for 48 of the finest high school students from across the nation. The program is hosted by the General Tommy Franks’ Leadership Institute, the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) and the Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian. 

Students will receive training from high-profile academic experts, NCPA professional policy analysts, debate coaches and university debate students. Leadership development and communications training is provided by faculty, staff and academy contributors from Oklahoma Christian. Organizers say the highlights of the week include learning invaluable lessons on leadership from Franks, the four-star general who commanded American and coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Michele Smith.

“Our goal is to ensure a brighter tomorrow by bringing the best and brightest students together to learn leadership skills and debate key issues,” Franks said. “This year will be an excellent opportunity for students to learn and debate a critical issue in American education, a topic in which they have first-hand experience.”

The purpose of the program is to train students in strategic thinking, planning, communication and teamwork and to practice their skills through debate. Participants receive practical training in the art of persuasion, gain in-depth knowledge of the debate issue, gather valuable team experiences and develop relationships with other up-and-coming leaders. The top debaters will be awarded scholarships for furthering their education.

In addition to Gen. Franks, students have the opportunity to interact with high-profile leaders, including Dr. John C. Goodman, NCPA president, and Dr. Mike O’Neal, OC president, who will teach them about leading large organizations while handling many competing interests. 

The goal of Gen. Franks’ institute and museum, located in Hobart, Oklahoma, is to tell compelling stories of leadership, introduce historical topics in each exhibit, and to encourage study and debate concerning the leadership traits.For more information, visit www.tommyfranksmuseum.org.

With offices in Dallas and Washington, D.C., the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA) is at its website as “a nonprofit, nonpartisan public policy research organization, established in 1983. The NCPA’s goal is to develop and promote private alternatives to government regulation and control, solving problems by relying on the strength of the competitive, entrepreneurial private sector.” For more information, visit www.ncpa.org 

The Academy of Leadership & Liberty at Oklahoma Christian University exists, in the prepared statement of its leadership, “to uphold, teach, and strengthen the values that promote liberty, free enterprise, and servant leadership. To accomplish that mission, the academy seeks to inspire leaders of character, vision, and courage while equipping them with the values that have a profound and lasting impact on individuals, families, communities, and nations.” The academy is “guided by faith and the principles of servant leadership, character, and social justice.” The academy “is committed to perpetuating the values and freedoms endowed by our Creator and empowered by the founding wisdom of our democracy.” For more information, visit http://www.oc.edu/academy/.

NOTE: Editor Patrick B. McGuigan contributed to this report.