Eastern Kentucky University’s Mock Trial Team finished second in the Great Lakes Mock Trial Invitational hosted by Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Nov. 19-20. EKU defeated teams from Indiana University, Michigan State University and Northwood University, and split ballots with St. Louis University en route to a 7-1 finish.
EKU’s second-place squad garnered an impressive six awards for individual performances in the tournament. Co-captain Laura Jackson, a junior political science major from Artemus, Kentucky, earned double awards as an Outstanding Attorney on both sides of the case. Co-captain Angel Spurlock, a senior chemistry teaching major from Rockcastle, Kentucky, also received double awards as an Outstanding Witness. Alicia Gilbert, a senior political science major from Brooksville, Kentucky, also won an Outstanding Attorney Award, and Hayley Abbott, a junior political science major from Corbin, Kentucky, earned an Outstanding Witness Award.
Other members of the team included April Morse, a sophomore forensic science major from Uniontown, Ohio; Chiani Murray, a senior Spanish and criminal justice double major from Louisville, Kentucky; Peyton Ratliff, a senior criminal justice major from Flatwoods, Kentucky; Reagan Roberts, a freshman from Monticello, Kentucky; and Ashley Thompson, a freshman political science major from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. Jackson, Spurlock, Gilbert, Roberts and Thompson are all members of the EKU Honors Program.
On the same weekend, another EKU team tied for sixth place at the Cornshucker Challenge tournament hosted by the University of Iowa in Iowa City. EKU fought back from a first-round loss to Cornell College and finished with a 5-3 record, splitting ballots with Northwestern University before sweeping all four ballots on Sunday against Cornell College and Northern Illinois University.
Ryan Wiggins, a sophomore criminal justice and psychology double major from Georgetown, Kentucky, was the top-ranking witness in the tournament, earning a perfect score and an Outstanding Witness Award. Melissa Mahan, a senior anthropology major from Bloomington, Illinois, also won an Outstanding Witness Award. Captain Allie Maples, a senior political science major from Mount Sterling, Kentucky, earned another Outstanding Attorney Award for her performance in the tournament.
Other members of EKU’s sixth-place team included Joseph Moore, a freshman political science major from Bowling Green, Kentucky; Brianna Palmer, a freshman criminal justice major from Richmond, Kentucky; Kaylyn Perkins, a freshman journalism major from Lily, Kentucky; and Alexa Turner, a junior paralegal science and history major from Winchester, Kentucky. Mahan, Maples, Moore, Perkins and Turner are all members of EKU Honors.
The EKU Mock Trial Program is funded by the EKU College of Letters, Arts, and Social Sciences, as well as donations from its alumni and supporters. Faculty and staff assisting with the program include Thomas Parker, Lynnette Noblitt, Brandon Williams, Kristeena Johnson and Dean Sara Zeigler.
Bottom photo: EKU's 6th Place-Team at the Cornshucker Challenge: from left, Melissa Mahan, Alexa Turner, Brianna Palmer, Joseph Moore, Kaylyn Perkins, Allie Maples and Ryan Wiggins.