Instructor: Peter Kamakawiwoole, JDPeter Kamakawiwoole is the Director of Litigation for the Home School Legal Defense Association. During his 12 years as a staff attorney on the HSLDA litigation team, he has represented homeschooling families before state and federal tribunals, including the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Second and Fourth Circuits, and the Supreme Court of Virginia. Kamakawiwoole earned his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law and is also an adjunct professor of government at Patrick Henry College. Additionally, Kamakawiwoole is a Patrick Henry College alumnus and was the first PHC American Moot Court Association national champion in 2005.
President Jack Haye is a 30-year veteran of the corporate banking world. He holds degrees from Baylor University and American Graduate School of International Management, including a Masters of International Management-Finance and Accounting. President Haye spent nearly twenty years as a banking executive at Wells Fargo and for ten years (2002-2012) held the position of Executive Vice President and National Manager. He served on the Board of Visitors at Baylor University (1986-1992), and as a founding member of PHC's Board of Trustees (1998-Present), having served as the Board Chairman since 2000.
Before becoming President of Patrick Henry College in August 2015, President Haye served as Executive Pastor of First Baptist Church of McKinney, a 5000-member church located near Dallas, Texas. His responsibilities there included staff development, budget management, development and delivery of apologetics teaching series, and oversight of both local and international missional engagement in the areas of orphan care, education, and human trafficking.
Jennifer Schlaudt is a former Teen Camper, a PHC alumna, and a lover of classic literature. Her Literature degree has opened doors for tutoring, teaching, and curriculum advising—not to mention zealous book clubbing. For over 10 years, Jennifer has invested in high school students at HSLDA Online Academy. Several of those years were focused on teaching and several more on oversight and administration. Her current role as the Academy Director is a privilege, though her love for AP® English Literature & Composition is undiminished.
As an English teacher and a lifelong reader, Jennifer loves opening students’ eyes to the beauty of language and literature—especially poetry. She is thrilled to be part of this year’s Literature & History camp. When she is not reading, Jennifer loves paddleboarding, scrapbooking, and tracking classic authors through beautiful, historic places.
PHC Forensics Program Director Susan Johnson brings more than a decade of coaching and organizational experience in high school and collegiate Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Debate to her role as Patrick Henry College Forensics Program Director.
Serving on the Boards of Directors for the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), American Moot Court Association (AMCA), and National High School Mock Trial Competition (NHSMTC), she is deeply involved in the forensics community nationwide. Sue has been published in the North Carolina State Bar Journal and various newsletters and has authored or co-authored more than a dozen mock trial cases at the high school and collegiate levels. She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, and M.P.H., magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, as well as a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. As a strong supporter of Patrick Henry College, Sue is passionate about developing young men and women to lead the nation and shape the culture for Christ.
Professor Nathan Russell holds an M.A. in Economics from George Mason University and specializes in Public Choice, Public Finance, practical economics, the morality and culture of markets, and communicating economic ideas—particularly ideas related to policy and everyday application of economics. Professor Russell has been with PHC since 2006 and is currently an assistant professor of economics. He previously worked for the Charles G. Koch Foundation where he developed economic education methodology and theories of economic management, the Regulatory Economics Group where he analyzed corporate cost and profitability, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy where he assessed state economic and educational policy.
An alumnus of Patrick Henry College, Professor Christian Fernandez holds a Bachelors of Arts in Literature and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance. As a student, he competed in Mock Trial all four years of college, leading several teams, earning multiple individual awards, and competing at the National Championship Tournament twice. Furthermore, he has coached several students to National Championship rankings in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Moot Court.
Professor Fernandez's studies include English literature, classical rhetoric, orations, and theatrical history. His focus is on the intersection between classical rhetorical theory and the rhetoric of early modern English drama. Alongside his studies, Professor Fernandez has directed multiple classical plays, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and Macbeth and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.
Debate Camp will be a stellar experience for anyone who wants to learn how to think, communicate, and persuade. Whether you're a seasoned debater who wants to win nationals or just wants to persuade someone on Facebook, this camp is for you. We will cover everything from basic logic and rhetorical skills to advanced non-verbal persuasion strategies. Through sessions, practice debate rounds, and practical drills, students will leave better equipped to speak truth in a winsome, loving manner.
Never debated before? Debate Camp will help you grasp the skill. Advanced debater? We will dive into the intricacies of persuasion and advanced debate theory to help you refine your skill.
Debate tactics for Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas will be covered during camp, giving you a head start on your preparation for the coming competition year. Students will also learn the finer points of rhetoric, tying their preparation into everyday life that you can take with you into adulthood.
Ryan McDonald is a federal enforcement attorney working at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. He was hired through the Honors Attorney program immediately upon graduation from Scalia Law School and passage of the Virginia Bar Exam. Professor McDonald himself competed in forensics and competitive speaking events of varying forms for more than 15 years, and he now employs his skills teaching Civic Debate to the forensics students of Patrick Henry College. The Civic Debate program at Patrick Henry College entails research and preparation for topic-specific events and enables students to intelligently, critically, and competitively engage in dialogue to persuade judges and citizens alike. The topics range from social justice reforms, economics, and climate topics, to international policy and diplomacy. Professor McDonald uses his class to help develop the critical thinking, research, and truth-seeking capabilities of his students, all while preparing them to compete against some of the best teams in the country.
Dr. Les Sillars directs the Journalism Program at Patrick Henry College. He teaches courses in the Journalism major, directs internships, serves as a student adviser, and oversees the student newspaper. Dr. Sillars is Mailbag Editor at WORLD magazine and a commentator and reporter for WORLD’s radio show, The World & Everything In It. His writing has appeared in The Weekly Standard, Touchstone, The National Post, The Gospel Coalition, The American Conservative, and other publications. His first book, Intended for Evil: A Survivor's Story of Love, Faith, and Courage in the Cambodian Killing Fields, came out in November 2016.
You can listen to one of his TW&E commentaries here.
Guest instructors will include Paul Butler, features editor at WORLD Radio, and more.
Instructor: Christian FernandezAn alumnus of Patrick Henry College, Professor Christian Fernandez holds a Bachelors of Arts in Literature and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance. As a student, he competed in Mock Trial all four years of college, leading several teams, earning multiple individual awards, and competing at the National Championship Tournament twice. Furthermore, he has coached several students to National Championship rankings in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Moot Court.
Professor Fernandez's studies include English literature, classical rhetoric, orations, and theatrical history. His focus is on the intersection between classical rhetorical theory and the rhetoric of early modern English drama. Alongside his studies, Professor Fernandez has directed multiple classical plays, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and Macbeth and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.
