UA Mock Trial team does well at regional tournament

The UA mock trial team competed for the first time ever at the American Mock Trial Assocation regional tournament in Ogden, Utah, and won the Outstanding New School award.

The two UA teams took second and fourth place in the region. Twenty-seven teams from Arizona, Colorado, Washington, Texas, Oregon, Indiana, Utah, and Idaho competed in the tournament.

Mock trial is a competition in which students play the roles of attorneys and witnesses and simulate a courtroom trial. Teams accumulate points based on the accuracy of witness portrayal and the strength of attorneys' arguments.

In addition to team awards, the American Mock Trial Association, the NCAA equivalent of college mock trial, gives out individual awards for outstanding witnesses and attorneys.

James Cool and Leslie Rawles won outstanding attorney awards, placing second and fourth place, respectively.

Jeremy Zarzycki received an outstanding witness award, tying for first place. Jessica Flatt, Leslie Coffman, and Nicole Slattery won outstanding witness awards, tying for ninth place.

The individual awards are based on rankings of top attorneys and witnesses that the judges make in each round.

The fourth-place team, whose members include Marcus Garrett, Amy Hermalik, Lesli Rawles, Jessica Flatt, Elizabeth Young, and Matthew Tropp, are now preparing for the national tournament in St. Paul, Minn. They will compete for a chance to advance to the National Championship Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa.

The second-place team, whose members include Jeremy Tor, James Cool, Jeremy Zarzycki, Michael Harnden, Leslie Coffman, and Nicole Slattery, automatically advance to the National Championship tournament.

The teams were coached by criminal defense attorneys Natasha Wrae and Stephanie Bond.

Students get MLK award for community leadership

Seven students were awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King Distinguished Leader Award last week for their involvement and leadership in the Hispanic community.

The award acknowledges those individuals who are active leaders in their communities and supporters of civil rights, said Sofia Ramos, program coordinator for Chicano/Hispano Student Affairs.

"They are considered role models for other students," she said.

The recipients were Consuelo Aguilar, Ovette Chapman, Espiridon Evangelista, Veronica Martinez, Sara Miranda, Anselmo Torres, and Kristian Ramos.

Consuelo Aguilar is a former director of the Minority Action Council and a Hispanic alumni scholar.

Ovette Chapman is president of Omega Delta Phi, a service-social coed fraternity and a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club.

Espiridon Evangelista has played an instrumental role in getting computers donated to needy families, coordinating a La Familia event that brings computer literacy to the underprivileged.

Veronica Martinez serves on numerous minority and Hispanic councils, advocating students' rights.

Sara Miranda helped coordinate an educational forum involving the candidates for congressional District Seven.

Anselmo Torres develops opportunities for community service, and he is the former president of Sigma Lambda Beta, a multicultural fraternity.

Kristian Ramos coordinated a voter registration drive, and he volunteers as a basketball coach for the Boys and Girls Club.