TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As Florida high school students gear up for the annual debate and speech competition this spring, the 1st place prize just got a new name, the "Kirk award," honoring the life of late conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered on a campus in Utah in September 2025.

Governor Ron DeSantis said the change is an effort to reinvigorate speech and debate across the state, something Kirk was known for on college campuses. But not everyone is applauding the move.

"The winner of the next Florida Civics and Debate Initiative state championship will take home the Charlie Kirk prize, renamed in honor of a young man who embodied the principles of patriotism, civil discourse, and open debate. The generous scholarship awards for the winner and other top competitors w

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