Michael Rosecrans of Glenbrook North High School (IL) was the recipient of the 2004 Julia Burke Award for Character and Excellence in National High School Policy Debate.He was chosen from a list of outstanding finalists including Sara del Nido of Lexington High School and John Patten of Montgomery Bell Academy. The award was presented at the Tournament of Champions held at the University of Kentucky i19n May. Lexy Green presented the award.

The Julia Burke Award was established to recognize the policy debater who best typifies the combination of qualities that Julia embodied, including excellence in and passion for debate, love and respect for the policy debate community, and a commitment to helping others and maintaining friendships despite the pressures of competition at the highest level. Julia debated for The College Preparatory School in Oakland, California and was lost in October 1998 as a result of a car accident.

The award is sponsored by The Julia Burke Foundation and includes a perpetual trophy in the shape of a flame inscribed, "THE JULIA BURKE FLAME FOR CHARACTER AND EXCELLENCE IN HIGH SCHOOL POLICY DEBATE." A smaller replica of the perpetual trophy is given to the recipient, as well as a $1,000 college scholarship, and a $1,000 donation to the charity of the recipient's choice.

Nominations for the 2005 award are invited from all policy debaters, coaches, and judges from now until after the Berkeley Tournament next February. They should be submitted to Marilyn_Burke@JuliaBurkeFoundation.com. More information about the award criteria and The Julia Burke Foundation is available at: www.JuliaBurkeFoundation.com