Syracuse University's undergraduate Mock Trial teams finished first and seventh out
of 23 teams from 13 colleges and universities competing in the Finger Lakes Regional
American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) tournament hosted at SU Feb. 13-15. The
victories secured a direct bid for both teams to compete in the opening round of the
AMTA's National Championship Tournament in Easton, Pa., March 13-15, hosted
by Lafayette College.
In addition, five SU students received two of the highest individual awards presented
at the regional tournament. Amanda St. Hilaire, a sophomore in the
S.I. Newhouse
School of Public Communications, received the All-Regional Witness Award, and the
following students received the All-Regional Attorney Award:
"The AMTA ranks the Finger Lakes Regional at SU as one of the best-run regional
tournaments in the circuit," says Kandice Salomone, associate dean for student
services in The College of Arts and Sciences and director of the college's iLearn
program, which sponsors the Mock Trial Program. "This is the first time in the team's
10-year history that two SU teams have earned automatic bids to nationals, where we
typically win awards."
Institutions participating in the Finger Lakes Regional Tournament included Cornell,
St. Bonaventure, Binghamton and Penn State universities; Amherst, Hamilton, Siena,
Canisius and Holy Cross colleges; the SUNY Colleges at Buffalo, Fredonia and
Geneseo; and the University of Rochester.
Mock Trial Program team members are selected and coached during the fall semester
by SU alumni trial attorneys and compete in the spring round of AMTA-sponsored
tournaments. Further information about the team is available at
http://ilearn.syr.edu/pgm_mocktrial.htm.
In addition to the Mock Trial Program, iLearn supports a variety of innovative
educational programs in The College of Arts and Sciences, including the Soling
Program, the Allport Program, the Undergraduate Research Program and the Ruth
Meyer Scholars.
