Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has announced a five-year, $5 million gift from Megan Medica in support of the university's debate program.

Made in honor of Megan's late husband, alumnus John Medica (MBA '83), the gift is the largest Wake Forest has received from an individual in support of a program in the undergraduate college. In addition to supporting the debate program, the gift will establish the John Kevin Medica Scholarships, which will assist the hardest working debaters each semester, and endow a faculty position for the debate program.

Long-time supporters of the university and debate enthusiasts, the Medicas began contributing financially to the team in 2015. Megan was a college debate competitor and earned a master's degree in communication from Wake Forest.

"We are so grateful to Megan Medica for choosing to honor John, who served as a trustee of Wake Forest, by investing in the Wake Forest Debate program," said Wake Forest president Susan R. Wente. "The extraordinarily generous gift will support the academic and personal development of our debaters and inspire them to reach their highest goals."

"John and I loved being a part of the Wake Forest debate family," said Medica. "Many a late weekend night, we would listen for a ping to alert us that a text arrived with a status report on how the team was doing at a tournament. I wanted to honor John and his commitment to Wake Forest; and there is no better way than to invest in a program that engages the mind, seeks excellence, and edifies young people."