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Keith West Memorial Fund

    Keith West Memorial Fund School Grant

    Keith West lived with compassion and care as cornerstone characteristics of his personality. Upon graduation from high school as a three time Iowa state champion and a finalist at the 2000 NSDA National Tournament in Congressional Debate, Keith went to college to pursue his future as an educator, coach, and scholar. Keith dedicated his life to coaching and teaching youth in the ways of argumentation and debate. 

    To honor Keith West’s life and legacy, his family and friends have established the Keith West Memorial Fund.

    2023 Recipients
    2022 Recipients
    2021 Recipients
    School State Amount
    Teton High School ID $5,000
    Theodore Roosevelt High School IA $2,500
    Colonial High School FL $2,500
    Golda Meir School WI $2,500
    Horizon High School – El Paso, TX TX $1,000
    Morristown West High School TN $1,000
    MacArthur High School OK $1,000

     

    School State Amount
    Navajo Preparatory School NM $5,000
    New Designs Charter School – University Park CA $2,500
    Santa Fe High School NM $2,500
    Alief Taylor High School TX $1,000
    Knott County Central High School KY $1,000
    Riverside University High School WI $1,000
    STRIVE Prep – RISE CO $1,000

     

    School State Amount
    Oliver Wendell Holmes High School TX $5,000
    Fort Walton Beach High School FL $2,500
    Desert Pines High School NV $2,500
    Dublin Jerome High School OH $1,000
    Rancho High School NV $1,000
    Woodrow Wilson High School CA $1,000
    Matilda Torres High School CA $1,000
    Thomas Edison High School MN $1,000

     

    Keith West Memorial Fund School Grant Application

    Keith believed that speech and debate could unleash a student’s true potential. In order to ensure more students have access to speech and debate, the Keith West Memorial School Grant will provide one $5,000 grant, two $2,500 grants, and five $1,000 grants to schools who show strong potential, but a significant lack of financial resources.

    The application cycle for 2024 is now closed. To be the first to know when the application opens in 2025, sign up here.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    a

    I am a student, can I apply?

    Students are welcome to help draft verbiage for applications in partnership with coaches, however we ask that a coach on record for the school submit the final application.
    a

    I coach a middle school speech and debate team, can I apply?

    No, the Keith West Memorial Fund grant is only open to high school teams.
    a

    I run a nonprofit, can I apply?

    This grant is specifically to support school-based speech and debate programs. 
    a

    If I applied last year, can I apply again?

    Yes!
    a

    If my school was a Keith West Memorial Fund recipient in a previous year, am I eligible to apply again?

    In order to provide support to more schools and teams, recipient schools from previous years will not be eligible to receive the award again.

    a

    My team is based outside the United States – can I still apply?

    This grant program is only available to United States-based high schools. At this time, teams based outside the US are not eligible to apply.