Six Mississippi Valley State University students recently won honors in the John Marshall Gulf Coast Regional Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition at the Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, La.
The team’s coach, Larry W. Chappell, a pre-law adviser, professor of political science and coordinator of the political science program, said he was pleased that the team’s season had started well.
“I was very concerned about a team with no members who have any experience competing at the collegiate level,” he said. “Fortunately, we have a strong and dedicated group this year. I think we will be very competitive in the remaining regional and national competitions.”
In the John Marshall Diversity format, students are assigned to teams with students from other colleges and universities. Each student must play five roles over three trial rounds, including opening attorney, closing attorney, directing attorney, crossing attorney and witness.
The MVSU team has been participating in the competition since 1998. MVSU is the only historically black college in Mississippi to field a team.
In its first year in regional competition, the team won the award for “best new team” at the Birmingham Regional of the American Mock Trial Association at Samford University. In 2011 and 2012, the team participated in the John Marshall Regional and National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competitions, receiving awards there as well.
“For 14 years, the Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team has competed with students all over the U.S. and has shown they can compete with the best,” said MVSU President Donna H. Oliver.
“Under the leadership of Dr. Chappell, the year has gotten off to a good start, and I believe their accomplishments have only just begun,” said Oliver.
MVSU student winners:
nArlinda Carter, a sophomore criminal justice major from Greenville, won top honors at the tournament. Individually, she won the First Place Overall Advocate Award. She also participated on the team (along with students from Southern University and Loyola University of New Orleans) that won first place. She won $15,000 in scholarship money for law school.
• Jacqueline Stokes, a senior political science major from Yazoo City, won Third Place Overall Advocate, and her team finished third in the competition. She earned $7,000 in scholarship money for law school.
• Senior political science major Kylon Alford-Windfield from Jackson won Fourth Place Overall Advocate. His team finished second in the competition. He earned $7,500 in scholarship money for law school.
• Darren Woodson, a senior business administration major from Picayune, was on the team that finished third in the competition. He earned $2,500 in scholarship money for law school.
• Senior criminal justice major Randall Johnson from Clarksdale received an honorable mention.
• Gianni Williams, a sophomore biology major from Greenwood, received an honorable mention.
Upcoming competitions include Southeast Diversity Mock Trial Competition, Feb. 15-16, 2013, at Tennessee State University in Nashville, and the National Undergraduate Diversity Mock Trial Competition, April 12-13, 2013, at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago.
