The danger I see is that the college student will win on logic but lose on rhetoric; the public impression given may well be that the student lost. So the issue then becomes: who is to judge who won the debate?
Choose students who are already good at rhetoric. Keep in mind that a professional biologist has the same problem, and that by sending in a prestigious biologist you’re already losing the “game” aspect.
The danger I see is that the college student will win on logic but lose on rhetoric; the public impression given may well be that the student lost. So the issue then becomes: who is to judge who won the debate?
Train the student to be good in rhetoric then.
Choose students who are already good at rhetoric. Keep in mind that a professional biologist has the same problem, and that by sending in a prestigious biologist you’re already losing the “game” aspect.