Vriti Patel is a first-year debater and freshman majoring in international relations and American studies. They are a four-year debater from Blue Valley South West who has won multiple debate accolades including speaker awards and qualification to the National Christian Forensics League. They are passionate in learning about the ways in which colonialism has shaped modern American politics as well as the international sector, and plan to use their degree to further research into settler colonialist studies. They enjoy reading as well as drawing, and are looking forward to debating for Iowa this coming season.