Achievers

Phillip Hayes of Lindale is scheduled to debate Malik Neal of Philadelphia in the History Whiz Kids Debate Tuesday in the Constitution Center in Philadelphia, Pa., officials announced.

The topic for their debate is "Who was the better president: George Washington or Abraham Lincoln?''

The winner, recipient of a $150,000 scholarship, will be chosen both by the National Constitution Center audience voting in person and the online public, who will have until 2 a.m. Wednesday to view the debate and cast their vote at www.nowdebatethis.com.

The runner up will win a $50,000 scholarship. Dr. John M. Templeton Jr., sponsor of the "Now Debate This" program, will announce the winner and present checks to both finalists live on Fox and Friends Wednesday morning.

Neal and Hayes were among 16 semi-finalists chosen this spring after submitting videos on YouTube.

They spent two weeks prior to the debates traveling the United States to explore the principles of America's founders.� Leading up to the start of the bus tour on July 25, contestants sought to discover Presidents Washington and Lincoln in their own home communities, developing theories about the Presidents' and their lives, and engaging people with their ideas.�

For more information, visit www.nowdebatethis.com or access the Now Debate This online social network at http://confab.nowdebatethis.com/