Annette S. Garcia
RegionOneEducationServiceCenter
956.984.6011
02.10.11
Edinburg North High School Mock Trial Team Does it Again!
Edinburg, TX – It was déjà vu at the Region One Annual Mock Trial Competition when the Edinburg North High School Mock Trial Team once again took home the top prize in the Region One Annual Mock Trial Competition—out-arguing and out-objectingopponent, McAllen Memorial High School.The Competition, which began on Saturday February 6, went into the final round of competition on February 7.
These two top teams will be traveling to Dallas, Texas on March 3-5,2011, representing Region One in the State Mock Trial Championship and for an opportunity to attend the National Mock Trial Championship in Phoenix, Arizona on May 4-8, 2011.
Members of the first place Edinburg North High School Mock Trial Team are Aissa Guerra, Danielle Vasquez, Mark Valdez, Brandon Castillo, Laurence Gonzalez, Michael Segovia, Erin Valdez, Abraham Sanchez, and Kathryn Cantu. The team was coached by Samuel J. Milligan and their attorney advisor was Francisco e. Gonzales.
Members of the second place McAllen Memorial High School Mock Trial Team are Elizabeth Escobedo, Elizabeth Garcia, Ricardo Guerrero, Ian Kettelkamp, Gloria C. Martinez, Erik Meckel, Fabian Moreno, Jovanni Moreno, Lisa Ramon, and Otto Sunday. The team was coached by Todd Kettelkamp and their attorney advisor was Joe Escobedo.
In addition to bragging rights, teams took home scholarship checks donated by the Hidalgo County Bar Association: the Edinburg North High School Mock Trial Team took home a prize of a $1,500 scholarship, McAllen Memorial Team was awarded a $1,000 scholarship check, and third place team, Edinburg High School was awarded a $500 scholarship check. Edcouch-Elsa High School was awarded the 4th place honors. “Best Advocate” honors went to Mark Valdez from Edinburg North High School and “Best Witness” honors went to Lisa Ramon from McAllen Memorial High School.
“The students and coaches work extensive hours studying and preparing for this competition,” says Martinez. “These dedicated teams work after school, weekends, and sometimes even during their school breaks to perfect their case.” In addition to working with their school Mock Trial Team Coach, students also get advice and pointers from practicing attorneys who share their expertise with students. Special thanks are extended to the Hidalgo County attorneys who donated their time to serve as “judges” throughout the varying levels of competition and to Judge Rose Guerra Reyna who served as presiding judge for the final round of competition.
The Texas High School Mock Trial competition is a statewide extracurricular program whose primary purpose is to increase students’ understanding of the judicial system by providing a first hand experience in court, explains Region One ESC Mock Trial Coordinator, Esequiel Martinez. The competition requires students to address legal issues, legal procedures, reasoning skills in a “real life” setting, and critical, productive, and creative thinking,” explains Martinez. By participating in the Mock Trial competition students prepare the role of witnesses and attorneys and employ legal strategies for the hypothetical case assigned to all teams.
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Region One Education Service Center( serves over 399,000 students and educators in seven counties in south Texas including Cameron, Hidalgo, Jim Hogg, Starr, Webb, Willacy, and Zapata counties. Region One works to assist school districts in improving student performance, assist districts to operate more efficiently and economically, and implement initiatives assigned by the legislature or the Commissioner of Education.
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