June 11, 2010 - The Jersey Urban Debate League's own teacher, coach, friend, and esteemed director, Brent Farrand, after 30+ years of service to the Newark debate community has retired. To celebrate the grand occasion, a group of Science High School alumni put together an evening of warm words, good food, congratulations, and awards at the Newark Club on Saturday, June 5th.

Some attendees included former Science High School principal Pat Restaino, Rutgers Distinguished Service Professor Clement Price, recording artist Wyclef Jean, Vice Chancellor at Rutgers University Marcia Brown, Program Officer of the Victoria Fund Craig Drinkard, and Executive Director of the National Association for Urban Debate Leagues Eric Tucker.

Turning a seemingly sad occasion into the start of something new Farrand declared the event a launch meeting, not a retirement party. So selfless Farrand spoke. Here is an excerpt from his speech:

"I also want to set the record straight publicly tonight. Yes I have worked hard, but I've worked amongst scores, hundreds of energized hard-working teenagers and alongside throngs of hard-working adults who are drawn to your energy and your light. This record can't be relayed tonight. I would have to go on for hours and they would pull me off. There are too many names to speak of, but I promise you it's a task that I give myself to write the record down of who belt this program, who really built this program all the people involved by August and I'm going to ask Christian (Oshiro) to distribute it via his wonderful distribution network. It's important to set the record straight. This is not a retirement dinner. This is a launch meeting for the next stage. The third stage. But to get to the next stage it's important that we know all of the hands that laid the bricks and the mortar of the house that we call Newark Science debate. Many of those people you know, many of them you don't. It begins with my own parents..."

Since 2001 upon founding the Jersey Urban Debate League, Farrand has served as the league's director. While his background is in mathematics he has been a participant of debate in Newark since the late 1970s.

Initially Newark debate was centered solely around Science High School, now Science Park High School. In 1979 he coached high school debate with a staff that compiled over 20 consecutive state championships. Notable awards in Farrand's career include the 1981 Northeast Debate Coach of the Year (University of Massachusetts), Key Coach Award from Emory University, Diamond Coach Award from the National Forensic League and a 2001 recognition from Emory University for promoting diversity in high school debate.

Brent Farrand has also received wide recognition for his contributions to the craft of classroom teaching. He received the Star Ledger Award for Excellence in Teaching in both 1985 and 1987. Princeton University honored him at their 1995 commencement exercise as Distinguished Teacher of the Year. In 1996 Mr. Farrand was declared Essex County Teacher of the Year.

He has served as Vice President of Debate for the New Jersey Forensic League and New Jersey District Chair for the National Forensic League. He was consultant to the New York Urban Debate League from 1999 to 2000 and has served as the Coordinator of the Newark Speech and Debate League since 1985.

That evening Farrand was presented with a resolution from the City of Newark for over 30 years of work with the Newark Board of Education, congratulations from U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and a plaque and gift from alumni presented by Science Park High School Lincoln-Douglas coach, Johnathan Alston. Furthermore, Farrand awarded the inaugural Bullfrog Award to recognize Kurt Shelton as JUDL Coach of the Year for his impressive work with the University High School and Rugtgers University debate teams.

Christian Oshiro opened the evening followed by Steve Manley, Science High School alum class of 1982. Manley's theme was "On Dedication, Service & Changing Lives".

Next we highlight individual speeches from the retirement dinner/launch party.