October 27th, 2016 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Association of Student Councils (ACASC) hosted a mock Presidential Debate on Monday, October 24, 2016, at the Center for Career and Technology Education. Students from Allegany, Fort Hill, the Career Center, and Mountain Ridge spent the evening debating hot topics as either a Democrat or Republican candidate. Candidates on the debate stage were as follows: Bracken McDaniel-Weissler, Career Center; Christian Smith, Fort Hill; Colby Twigg, Allegany; Evan Hostetler, Allegany; Jordan Kight, Mountain Ridge; Kieran Cakus, Career Center; Morgan Edwards, Mountain Ridge; and Trinity Hillegas, Fort Hill. Zachary Sterne and Reid Buskirk moderated the evening’s debate. Candidates were judged on both their speech/posture during the debate as well as on their knowledge of questions about climate change, college tuition, illegal immigration, U.S. borders, and equal rights.  Judges included Dr. David Cox, ACPS Superintendent of Schools; Karen Bundy, retired ACPS Director of Secondary Education; Jim “Snake” Robertson, Western Maryland JATC Chairman of Board of Directors; Jake Shade, Allegany County Commissioner; and Cpt. Greg Leake, Cumberland City Police Department.             Morgan Edwards of Mountain Ridge was declared the winner of the debate, and Evan Hostetler of Allegany was the runner-up. The co-advisors of the Allegany County Association of Student Councils are John Logsdon and Kara Kennell.