On May 31, 2025, two Shantou University freshmen claimed top honors at one of China’s most prestigious collegiate English debating competitions — the 27th National College English Debating Championship (全国大学生英语辩论赛). Coached by Collin Tham of the English Language Center, Lin Yimiao from the College of Arts and Zhong Chengxi from the College of Science competed against 175 teams from leading universities across the country, including Peking University and Beijing Foreign Studies University. The pair took first place in the South China Regional and third place nationally, while Collin Tham was recognized as an Outstanding National Tutor.

The achievement reflects years of sustained effort. Collin has been with Shantou University for over a decade and has coached its debate program for nearly as long. Under his guidance, students train weekly, developing not only fluency and vocabulary, but also the ability to think critically, construct arguments under pressure, and engage confidently with complex ideas in English — skills that extend far beyond the competition stage. This year’s team made their journey from the Guangdong Regional all the way to the national finals, a testament to their dedication and the program’s steady growth.