Who we are

We’re two national champion debaters who know what it takes to win — both on the circuit and in the college admissions process.

We founded this program after years of competitive success, including national champion excellence across high school and collegiate debate, to help students unlock the full potential of speech and debate.

As current undergraduates at the University of Chicago — one of the nation’s most selective and rigorous institutions — we’ve seen firsthand how debate sharpens the skills colleges value most: critical thinking, public speaking, research, and advocacy.

We built this program not just to coach students in competitive debate, but to guide them through the process of turning those skills into standout college applications. Whether your goal is a trophy, a top-tier university, or both — we’re here to help you get there.

Join us, and let debate be your edge.

— Michael & Julien

Co-Founders, Apollo Debate Academy

Meet the Team

Julien Benchek
Co-Founder

Julien currently leads the training program for the #1-ranked collegiate debate team in the nation (UChicago). As a high school competitor, he won the NCFL Grand National Tournament, the Ohio State Championship, and accrued the most NSDA points in his state’s history.

Michael Hansen
Co-Founder

Michael is a three-time US national debate champion, winning the Gold Tournament of Champions, the NCFL Grand National Tournament, the NDCA National Championship. He has also won the Yale University Invitational, the NC State Championship, and the Glenbrooks Tournament. He was ranked the #1 debater in the nation out of 15,000+ competitors.