Daniel Zakari
Education:
John Carroll University (B.S. in Biochemistry). Expected [2028]
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. (D.O.) Expected [2032]
For context, I'm in a combined 3+4 BS/DO program where I will spend 3 years at John Carroll University and then 4 years at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Experience
Competitive Background
Events: Lincoln-Douglas Debate
Academic & Debate Highlights
2x NSDA Qualifier, 3x State Qualifier.
Placed 23rd @ 2025 NSDA Nationals (Advanced to Round 10) in Lincoln-Douglas Debate.
Ranked 4th in Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Ohio.
Student Council Class President.
National Honor Society, Math Honors Society, History Scholars Society (President).
Research Intern @ Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute; assisted in cellular biology research focused on platelet activation and vascular inflammation in the McIntyre Lab.
Director of Content @ Debate Resources (debateresources.com), a non-profit dedicated to providing high school debaters with comprehensive resources and promoting equitable access to quality debate education. Grew organization from 4.5k users to 11.5k+ users.
Professional Pianist and owner of Daniel Zakari Piano; teaches lessons and performs at restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals, and events.
Relevant Experience
Head of Lincoln-Douglas Debate Team
Jackson H.S. Served as central leader by designing and delivering rebuttal lectures, hosting team-wide presentations for 30+ debaters, and guiding novices through practice rounds, critiques, and tournament preparation. Consistently organized practices, provided feedback, and supported peers’ growth, raising the team’s competitive success.
Summer Camp Coaching (University High School & Middle School, 2025) Coached middle school and high school debaters through lectures, practice rounds, and personalized feedback. Three of the top four debaters in my lab at the high school camp tournament were students I coached.
DebateResources.com: Director of Content Lead content development for debateresources.com, a nonprofit dedicated to providing high school debaters with comprehensive resources and promoting equitable access to quality debate education. Oversee creation, curation, and organization of educational materials to support students nationwide. Grew nonprofit from 4k users to 11.5k+ (tracked by Google Analytics).
About Me
I’m Daniel Zakari, a nationally ranked Lincoln-Douglas debater and coach with 11 lifetime state bids, 3 state qualifications, and 2 NSDA national qualifications in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. I specialize in perfecting the 1AR and other rebuttals, cornering opponents in cross-ex, and constructing unique, strategic cases. My coaching focuses on precision, strategy, and adaptability, helping debaters refine their argumentation, tighten their technical execution, and maximize round efficiency. I’m best suited for competitive students aiming to break consistently and dominate high-level rounds. If that sounds interesting to you, please reach out!