Charles Sturt University (CSU) and the NSW Department of Education and Communities have joined forces to gather the best and brightest Year 9 students from across the Riverina region to compete for the Riverina Debating Challenge Cup. The University will host the 2012 Riverina Debating Festival on Wednesday 12 December at CSU in Albury-Wodonga with 45 students accompanied by staff from high schools in Albury, Corowa, Finley and Wagga Wagga. Students will also take part in expert workshops with senior adjudicators to discuss the finer points of preparing for and delivering a speech as part of a debating team. “This is an exciting opportunity for talented students to be challenged by their peers in a high-quality debating contest,” said event coordinator and lecturer with CSU’s School of Education, Mr Paul Grover.