Quest Sandel

Quest Sandel has served as Ascend's Co-Founder, 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, 2024, & the 2025 California 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, & 2024 Senate Leadership Bowl winners, the top presiding officer of the 2020 NSDA House, as well as numerous other national finalists and invitational champions. Additionally, Quest has individually advised dozens of Ascend alumni to leverage and position their debate experience to earn admission to top universities, including Harvard University, Stanford University, Yale University, UC Berkeley, and UCLA.