Philip Hayes no sooner sealed the Grand Prize of a $150,000 scholarship in the Now Debate This: Washington-Lincoln ’08: The Great Debate competition, when he found himself tapped for yet another leading role on the national stage. And, his speaking skills will come in handy again.

Philip has been selected to represent the National Teenage Republicans at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Saint Paul, MN. The biggest news of all: Philip will address the entire convention Sep 2, between 6-6:30 eastern time, carried live on C-SPAN.

Philip, a native of Lindale Texas, is the founder and chairman of the Lindale High School Teenage Republicans. He was designated as the official Spokesman of the National Teenage Republicans, a youth-led, auxiliary organization of the Republican National Committee that challenges teens to become involved in their local, state and national political process.

Philip cited two things that he believes gave him the edge for selection from more than 100 other teens nation wide. First, his ’platform’ stressed the importance of teenagers to the Republican Party and the political process. Second, the national exposure of winning the Now Debate This competition, the results of which were announced live in New York Aug. 20 on Fox and Friends morning show.

’Its been a whirlwind of a ride,’ Philip says. "I am extremely grateful to everyone involved in the Now Debate This project as well as to my community. Without everyone’s support I wouldn’t be able to take advantage of this opportunity. This has been the summer of a lifetime."

Check out Philip’s exclusive coverage of the RNC on his blog: http://confab.nowdebatethis.com/profile/PhilipHayes. Philip will also be logging video accounts of his experiences on Now Debate This.

Congratulations, Philip, from everyone at Now Debate This!