Ranen has been competing in speech and debate since his freshman year of high school, primarily in Congressional Debate, and is the captain for the Congressional Debate program at his school. Some of his competitive accomplishments include championing the Princeton Invitational and Blake Round Robin, placing 3rd at NSDA Nationals for World Schools, and 4th at NCFL Nationals, among others. He also is also one of nine students chosen for the USA Debate Team to represent the United States around the country in debate, championing the Greenhill Invitational in Texas, Cornell Invitational in New York, and the World Schools Debating Tournament in Ljutomer, Slovenia, along with placing 3rd at the EurOpen tournament in Stuttgart, Germany. Outside of debate, Ranen is an officer of his school’s Key Club, Peer Leaders Program, Student Government, and Make-A-Wish Club, along with writing for his school newspaper, The Miller, and founding his school’s branch of the Young Democrats of America. Ranen is passionate about politics and philanthropy, and in his free time enjoys watching Ted Talks, volunteering for local charities, and lobbying to lower the voting age working with the Youth Progressive Policy Group. He is honored to be receiving this award today!