The Oklahoman

Megan Rolland

June 17, 2010

Joe Epperson and Gen. Tommy Franks - Photo provided

This summer 24 high school students, including one from Oklahoma, will travel to Jordan with Four Star Debate to create plans to promote peace between between Israelis and Palestinians and then defend those plans in a debate competition.

One Oklahoma high school student is taking his competitive arguments to the next level, traveling to Jordan in July to debate how the U.S. could support a peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians.

Joe Epperson, a 16-year-old junior at Harding Charter Preparatory Academy, is one of 24 debaters from across the nation selected to attend the weeklong Four Star Debate camp this year.

Epperson said shortly before he was selected he learned that the camp would be held near Amman, Jordan, and that students from the U.S. would be paired with students from Jordan for the team debate.

"The idea of being able to study another culture, make friends with people who are literally halfway around the world is exciting and incredibly fascinating,” Epperson said.

The camp was created by retired Gen. Tommy Franks, who hopes to develop leadership among America's youth.

The program also is sponsored by Oklahoma Christian University.

Epperson said he is preparing for the trip by brushing up on both the history of Middle East conflict and current events.

He and a student from Jordan will prepare a plan for how to create peace between the hostile lands and support the plan with evidence.

The team then will attempt to refute another team's plans. At the end of the week a winner will be announced.

Cailey Gray, the debate coach from Harding Charter Preparatory, said that last school year as a sophomore Epperson was a standout on the team.

"He has a keen ability to listen to an argument someone makes and be able to find the weakness and attack it,” Gray said.

"I think it's a really excellent opportunity for him. ... High school students have a lot of really great ideas, and hopefully someone will be listening to them.”

The students also will have the chance to meet Jordanian King Abdullah II.

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