New iPad minis are in sight for the PHS Debate team.

They received a grant from the D-backs Back-To-School Challenge.

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the University of Phoenix will corroboratively present 31 winning schools with their various grants. These grants are all focused on helping the schools in some way with innovative educational programs.

The team centered their program on iPads. The idea was to find a way to use textbooks, type, keep updated with current news, and research with portability. At first, iPads were thought to be out of reach until they realized how beneficial the iPads would be for them. “Debate club doesn’t have much funding,” junior Dante Bartee shared. “So, Mrs. Buzan found us a grant opportunity, and we jumped at it.”

Applying for this grant was no easy task. Their advisor, Angela Buzan, had to write a paper describing the use for the iPads. The first time she submitted it, they sent it back claiming that the paper was too long. So, she revised and shortened her work and sent it yet again. This time they got word back that they had received the grant.

“The plan for next year is to debate internationally, which is something Perry has never dreamed of doing,” Bartee shared. “As well as spreading new ideas with India, China etc.”

The debate team aspires to accomplish many great things in the upcoming years with their new found technology as well as the new talent joining the club.

This grant is being put to good use, and the students involved will be able get worldly experience from within a classroom in Gilbert by using their iPads to communicate through Skype and learn new things everyday.