Dynamic debate duo reflects on their undergraduate careers

Shreyas Rajagopal and Grace Kessler are like many inseparable friends: they text every day and love to go shopping together.

But the most treasured memories of their senior year come from the evenings and weekends they spent discussing nuclear weapons policy.

The dynamic duo first crossed paths as competitive debaters in high school. After connecting as scholar finalists, they became fast friends.

It wasn’t until their senior year that they joined forces as debate partners within Emory’s Barkley Forum. Powerhouses in their own right, team “Emory KR” quickly rose through the tournament ranks.

“We traveled to tournaments all around the country and at times spent more time working on debate than anything else. But Shreyas and I had so much fun doing it,” Grace explains.

Policy is a rigorous form of debate that requires both detailed preparation and agile extemporaneous speaking. With a shared work ethic and Dropbox folder, the pair approached the season’s topic on U.S. nuclear weapons policy by diligently running speaker drills and researching nuclear warhead stockpiles.

“We complimented each other really well in our strengths and weaknesses,” says Shreyas.

Their debate accolades are too many to enumerate in prose. They frequently placed as top speakers and won national tournaments at Wake Forest University, CSU Long Beach, and UT-Austin.

“As the year progresses, we don’t even need to have a conversation before a speech in terms of what we’re going to do because it comes so naturally,” Shreyas says.

“We believed in each other more than anyone and it paid off," Grace adds.

On the eve of the National Debate Tournament, they achieved their ultimate goal: winning the Rex Copeland Award. The award recognizes the team with the best season-long performance, and Emory KR won out over 15 other teams.

The next day, they went on to finish as semifinalists and the top two speakers of the tournament.

For Shreyas, “winning [the Rex Copeland Award] alongside my best friend has been a dream come true.”

As friends and a team, the camaraderie and mutual support between Shreyas and Grace is evident.

“The biggest thing I learned from Grace is to think quickly but effectively about arguments… Her judgement is almost always right,” says Shreyas.

Of Shreyas, Grace explains, “[he’s] obviously one of the funniest people… and being able to bring that humor and wit into debate rounds while also maintaining the strength of argument that you have… I want to take that into all different parts of my life.”

Their debate success comes not just from their hard work and interpersonal dynamic, but also from their ability to cross-pollinate with their interdisciplinary academic interests.

A pre-law Political Science major and History minor, Grace found an unexpected joy in Russian history classes, which came in handy at the podium. “In debate, Russia comes up frequently,” Grace explains.

She also worked in an immigration law research group for three years. “It’s really special to be connected to a scholarly community – and people of different levels of experience – who were all passionate about this one issue and wanted to learn more,” she says about her experience.

Shreyas, a pre-med Chemistry and Religion double major, has been inspired by his research on Buddhism’s organizing principles and his work with refugee communities in Clarkston.

“Physically serving communities – but also advocating for them, representing them – in settings where you have multiple, oftentimes conflicting, stakeholder interests is something that's very important to me,” he says.

As they begin their next chapters, Shreyas and Grace remain motivated by a deep commitment to building community.

One of four Emory students to receive the 2024 Robert T. Jones Jr. Scholarship, Shreyas will spend next year studying interdisciplinary global research at the University of St Andrews. In 2025, he’ll begin medical school at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons.

Grace was recognized for her extraordinary community leadership with the Lucius Lamar McMullan Award this May. After some much deserved rest and relaxation, Grace will spend two years as a Business Analyst at McKinsey and Company before starting at Harvard Law School.

Having led with humility, humor, and raw dedication, these Robert W. Woodruff Debate Scholars leave behind an undeniable legacy at Emory. Reflecting on his Emory experience, Shreyas says, “though I am in awe at the accomplishments and passion displayed by [my peers], what I love is the aptitude each person possesses for community.”