Meet the Katy Debate Instructors!
Aaron Erol
Anagha Tirumalai
Anagha Tirumalai
Aaron Erol is currently a college debater at Trinity University in San Antonio. He is also a debate judge for the Texas Forensic Association. In high school, he was a top contender in World Schools Debate for over three years. He was a finalist at the South East Asian debate tournament (SEA) in 2018 when he lived in Malaysia. In 2020, he
Aaron Erol is currently a college debater at Trinity University in San Antonio. He is also a debate judge for the Texas Forensic Association. In high school, he was a top contender in World Schools Debate for over three years. He was a finalist at the South East Asian debate tournament (SEA) in 2018 when he lived in Malaysia. In 2020, he became the TFA World School Speaker Texas State Champion and competed and placed in the finalist brackets at the US National Tournament. He was the captain of the Tompkins High School’s World Schools Debate team in 2020 and has both the experience and the passion for teaching debate. His students have gone on to compete at the state and national levels and have achieved their own success.
Anagha Tirumalai
Anagha Tirumalai
Anagha Tirumalai
Anagha Tirumalai is attending UT Austin and graduated from Obra D. Tompkins in the top 3% of her class. She is a three-time TFA State qualifier, a two-time NSDA Nationals alternative, and has competed at NSDA Nationals. Since her freshman year she has competed in varsity events, including extemporaneous speaking (both foreign and domestic
Anagha Tirumalai is attending UT Austin and graduated from Obra D. Tompkins in the top 3% of her class. She is a three-time TFA State qualifier, a two-time NSDA Nationals alternative, and has competed at NSDA Nationals. Since her freshman year she has competed in varsity events, including extemporaneous speaking (both foreign and domestic), prose, impromptu speaking, oratory, policy debate, public forum debate, and world schools! Anagha was the Secretary of her debate team in her junior year and the President in her senior year. Throughout high school, she has helped foster a passion for debate in novice students by cultivating their skills in various speech, interpretation, and debate events, with her students going on to be state and national-level competitors. Her experience as a debater, coaching students, as well as judging in the middle school debate circuit gives her the unique perspective of a judge, competitor, and teacher!
Elisabeth Mathis
Elisabeth Mathis
Elisabeth Mathis
Elisabeth Mathis is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin and is double majoring in Plan II Honors and International Relations and Global Studies. Her passion for politics and debate started after competing in Warsaw, Poland, and Stavanger, Norway for Model United Nations. During her time at Tompkins High School, she was a memb
Elisabeth Mathis is a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin and is double majoring in Plan II Honors and International Relations and Global Studies. Her passion for politics and debate started after competing in Warsaw, Poland, and Stavanger, Norway for Model United Nations. During her time at Tompkins High School, she was a member of the OTHS Speech and Debate Team for four years and took an active role to improve the performance of her peers using her position as a Congress captain, Vice President, and President! Elisabeth has worked extensively with her peers to improve their speech and presentation in their respective events, with some going on to compete at TFA State and NSDA Nationals! She has not only competed and been a finalist at the Texas Forensic Association (TFA) State Competition but also has competed on a national level and has attended several exclusive invitational tournaments such as Plano West and Glenbrooks in Chicago.
Mark Ugoh
Elisabeth Mathis
Elisabeth Mathis
Mark Ugoh graduated from Tompkins High School having been involved with football, wrestling, track and field, student council president, and last but definitely not least, debate. Mark currently attends the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a bachelor of science in Corporate Communication with a minor in business. Before Mark moved t
Mark Ugoh graduated from Tompkins High School having been involved with football, wrestling, track and field, student council president, and last but definitely not least, debate. Mark currently attends the University of Texas at Austin pursuing a bachelor of science in Corporate Communication with a minor in business. Before Mark moved to Austin, he competed at numerous tournaments alongside Aaron and oversaw training for 3 younger teams to qualify for TFA state. As a national and state finalist level world schools debater, over the course of his career, Mark says, he's grown to love competing with his teammates who are still some of his best friends and hopes to instill the same passion for competition within each student he meets.