The Thomas Glenn Pelham Award has been given annually since 1990 at the National Speech and Debate Tournament in recognition of devotion to the forensic arts, which teach motivation, integrity, and character.

For over 13 years, Mr. Thomas Glenn Pelham served as the director of the Barkley Forum at Emory University. He believed in the unique capability of the forensic arts to build character in the young people who participated and that constructive dialogue, conflict resolution, critical thinking, literacy, and communication skills are central to a civilized society. Mr. Pelham worked tirelessly to provide speech and debate opportunities to college and high school students and believed so strongly in recognizing educators who did the same that he established this award in his will. It is endowed by the Barkley Forum for Debate, Deliberation, and Dialogue at Emory University.

This award is given annually to someone who:
• has spent a decade or more as an educator or advocate in the high school speech and debate community
• exhibits motivation, integrity, and character
• emphasizes to speech and debate students the importance of motivation, integrity, and character above competition

Past recipients of the Thomas Glenn Pelham Award:

Barkley Forum Senior Director Ed Lee presents the 2021 Thomas Glenn Pelham Award to Nicole Wanzer-Serrano of the National Speech and Debate Association https://youtu.be/Mj3wjVsJfoE