PASSION FOR DEBATE AND THE DOWNTRODDEN

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January 27, 2024

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here. 

Notre Dame Prep senior and debate champion looking to take his longtime advocacy for the marginalized into medical school and a career in osteopathy.

Notre Dame Prep senior Matthew Kafarski continued his stellar career in debate and forensics this week with a first-place finish in the Jan. 20 National Speech & Debate Association's Congressional Debate Qualifier tournament, an online competition hosted by NDP. Dr. LeAnne Schmidt, who is the school's debate and forensics coach and teacher in the middle school, helped organized the tourney.

Monday's win automatically qualifies Kafarski to compete in Des Moines, Iowa, for the 100th Annual NSDA National Tournament.

Kafarski also served as presiding officer for the qualifier and believes that role helped carry him over the finish line.   

"The only thing different about Monday's state qualifier versus previous qualifiers was that I took on the role of presiding officer, the person responsible for leading and directing the debate during the first session of the conference," he said. "This was something I had never done before, since I typically take on the role of a representative or senator and arguing bills on the floor in previous qualifiers and tournaments. 

"I think the choice to 'put myself out there' this time as presiding officer and to apply my previous experiences with congressional debate were ultimately the deciding factors in my win Monday."

Champion of the marginalized

Schmidt said Kafarski was an excellent presiding officer at the qualifier. She added that NDP also advanced qualifiers for the Detroit Catholic Forensic League to the National Catholic Forensic League Grand National Tournament in Chicago on Memorial Day weekend. 

"Senior Eric Davis, Nella Kaminskas NDP'27 and Anna Kafarski NDP'27, Matthew's sister, will be going to Chicago and Max Mermell NDP'28 will be our first alternate," she added.

Kafarski, who has been at Notre Dame Prep since the third grade, said he's been a longtime participant in debate, especially congressional debate, because of certain issues he holds dear. 

"Congressional debate has always been a way for me to advocate for issues close to me in my community and on a national level, such as adequate and affordable healthcare and the availability of EV chargers nationwide," he said. "This year's state qualifier was no different. Bills such as banning online sports gambling, enshrining healthcare in the constitution, and installing protections against AI deepfakes were on the table, providing for many thoughtful and sometimes even explosive discussions." 

He also credits his school and its International Baccalaureate program with engendering an advocacy for the disadvantaged of the world.

"As an NDP and IB-Diploma Program student, my time at NDP has inspired me to have an international mindset while also staying true to my Catholic roots," he said, "where it's important to involve yourself in global issues and champion the well-being of the marginalized and all of God's creation, which also is a valuable lesson echoed throughout our school's religion curriculum." 

He said it is initially what inspired him to join debate back in seventh grade. "It's also the reason that I have continued throughout high school, drafting bills on the state level, such as the 'Let Doctors Be Doctors' bill, and representing the people of the United States in countless congressional debate forums."

It comes down to medicine

Now on the homestretch of his high school experience, Kafarski is looking forward to the next level of his academic career while remaining connected to debate and forensics.

"I hope to continue my debating career while starting a new journey toward a future in medicine at either a direct medical program like MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine's Osteopathic Medical Scholars Program or the George Washington University's seven-year BA/MD program," he said. 

"However, these programs are extremely competitive, with about a 1% acceptance rate, so realistically, I look forward to attending either Case Western Reserve University, the University of Michigan, or Johns Hopkins all of which have exceptional research opportunities, medical schools and distinguished public policy programs."

More specifically, he said, he would likely sign on to a dual major in biochemistry/molecular biology and health policy.

While medical school is farther down the road, Kafarski nonetheless has his sights set on some rather specific goals.

"I hope to be accepted to the Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine, where I would pursue my passion for osteopathy, which prioritizes the health and well-being of the entire human body instead of simply treating individual diseases, or to either Case Western or the University of Michigan's medical schools," he said. 

Ultimately, though, for Kafarski, pursuing a medical career fits perfectly with his Catholic and Marist education thus far and his overwhelming desire to help those in need.

"I want to pursue medicine to become a physician who truly advocates for patients and their right to affordable, comprehensive and equitable treatment, which is something that I believe starts with a strong physician-patient relationship. This also is where I see a natural collision of my passion for debate and my interest in medicine."

For information on admission to Notre Dame Prep, please click here.

Comments or questions? mkelly@ndpma.org

About Notre Dame Preparatory School
"At Notre Dame Prep, we inspire our students to become the best versions of themselves. We challenge them through an experience of academic excellence, focused on active, project-based learning. We invite them to explore a world of opportunities beyond the classroom. We guide them as they grow in spirituality within a community strong in its Catholic and Marist identity."

Notre Dame Preparatory School is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. Notre Dame Preparatory School's upper school enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame Prep's middle and lower schools enroll students in pre-kindergarten through grade eight. All three schools are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDP is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the National Association of Independent Schools. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School, visit the school’s home page at www.ndprep.org.