The Regents' Cup
Applications are OPEN!
The Regents' Cup is a tri-university competition celebrating free speech and civil discourse presented by the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). Student orators from Arizona’s public universities participate in Oxford debate and Storytelling categories. The Regents' Cup honors participants for articulating different points of view in an environment where competitors remain civil and respectful.
ABOR awards scholarships, funded by generous community sponsors, to first, second, and third-place winners — $15,000, $12,000, and $5,000 respectively. All other team members receive a $500 scholarship. Students may use the funds to support their education. Previous debate or speech experience is not required.
Participating students must take a 3-credit competition preparatory course in Spring 2027 led by the Regents’ Cup U of A coaches, professors Diana Leonard and Ted McLoof.
The application deadline for the Regents’ Cup is November 13th. University teams will be selected, notified and announced by mid-December, and on-campus coaches will prepare students for the competition in April.
The 2027 Regents' Cup
When: April 10, 2027
Where: ASU downtown Phoenix campus in the Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law and the Thunderbird School of Global Management
Theme: America at 250: Democratic Institutions
Regents' Cup Contacts at the University of Arizona
