Quest Sandel
Chief Executive Officer, Ascend California Co-Camp Director, & Curriculum Director of Congressional Debate
Quest Sandel has served as Ascend’s Co-Camp Director, Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Curriculum Director of Congressional Debate since its inception. He also serves as the Head Congressional Debate Coach at James Logan High School in Union City, California. Since he started coaching in 2016 at John F. Kennedy High School in Sacramento, California, he has been the winningest Congressional Debate Coach in the United States. He has coached success at every level of Congressional Debate, including the 2019 & 2023 NSDA Senate National Champions, the 2023 NSDA House National Champion, the Champions of the 2020, 2022, & 2023 Tournament of Champions, the 2021, 2023, & the 2024 CHSSA State Champions, the 2023 Texas State Champion, the 2023 Michigan State Champion, the 2020, 2021, & 2022 NSDA Senate Runners-up, the 2024 Tournament of Champions Runner-up, the 2021 & 2022 Senate Leadership Bowl winners, the top presiding officer of the 2020 NSDA House, as well as numerous other national finalists and invitational champions.
Outside of his competitive success, he has displayed an ability to manage student safety from a young age. Having led groups of students on trips across the country without incident and having led our camp for years without incident, he brings the experience every family expects from a camp leader. He knows a fun camp is a safe camp and a safe camp is what allows students to learn.
As Curriculum Director, he is the architect of the best Congress curriculum in the United States by any metric. He ensures every single student receives an individualized plan that follows them throughout camp. Unlike other camps, he ensures that Ascend doesn't teach an "one size fits all" style and that each student is taught the fundamentals while also developing their own style. Every summer he innovates our way of teaching Congress so even when other camps imitate older versions of our curriculum, we ensure Ascenders remain ahead of the curve.
Outside of debate, he has a passion for psychology, lemonade, and University of Michigan Football, reading, and fantasy football. It is very important to him that you know that he's a 2x champion in his main fantasy football league. He is super excited to help you Ascend to new heights!!!
Email: quest.sandel@ascendspeech.org
