Faculty Member Honored by Barley Forum

The Barkley Forum for High Schools at Emory University has a long-standing tradition of naming its elimination rounds (“tutorials”) after coaches who have made sustained and meaningful contributions to the speech and debate community. These rounds mark the transition from preliminary competition to championship-level elimination debates and recognize individuals whose leadership and mentorship have shaped the activity.

As part of this tradition, the Barkley Forum – one of the nation’s most respected high school speech and debate tournaments – has renamed the first Lincoln-Douglas elimination round the Aaron W. Timmons Tutorial. Timmons is currently the only active full-time coach to receive this recognition.

“I am deeply honored to be recognized by the Barkley Forum at Emory University,” Timmons said. “I view this as a reflection of the many students, colleagues, and coaches who have inspired and challenged me to continue growing as an educator and coach.”

Having a tutorial named in one’s honor is evidence not only of competitive excellence but also of a level of commitment, character, and moral authority that marks the finest teachers in the nation. Congratulations to Aaron!