Lee’s Society for Law and Justice members after the competition (back row, from left) Malakai Cebrera, Graham Stewart, Chase Lawson, and Ben Wycoff; (middle row, from left) Mimi Paul, Ibi Oduguwa, Lydia Burton, Madelaine Burgess, Delaney Bryant, and William Fulford; (front row, from left) Katie Philyaw, Tami Bankcole, Alison Holley, Alex French, Skylar Burton, Clara Politino, Alex Clark, and Maddie Bennedict.
The Society for Law and Justice, Lee University’s mock trial team, won first place at the 2019 Owl Classic Mock Trial Competition, hosted by Kennesaw State University at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School.
“I am extremely pleased with how our teams performed, and I am beyond proud of each member on the team, especially considering this is our first tournament of the season” said Ben Wycoff, president of the Society for Law and Justice. “Our alumni coaches have really helped us prepare for the competition, and I feel really good about where we are headed into the next competition.”
Two Society for Law and Justice teams performed at the competition. Team A, led by Mr. Wycoff, placed first in the competition. Mr. Wycoff helped Lee win two consecutive first place wins at Owl Classic and received the Outstanding Attorney award. Team A members Madelaine Burgess and Lydia Burton won Outstanding Witness. Team B, led by Katie Philyah, placed third. Team B’s William Fulford won Outstanding Attorney.
“Mock trial has opened up so many doors for me, and I’m so blessed to be a part of this group,” said Ms. Burton. “In my first competition, I was privileged to receive Best Witness award, proving that hard work truly pays off. Mock trial has only further sparked my passion for the legal profession, and I look forward to the lessons and relationships I will continue to make through mock trial.”
Other competing teams included Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University, Middle Tennessee State University, Spelman College, and University of South Carolina Aiken.
The Owl Classic is hosted by the American Mock Trial Association, a governing body that offers undergraduate students opportunity to compete with teams in trial simulations.
For more information about the AMTA, visit http://www.collegemocktrial.org/.
For more information about Lee’s mock trial team, contact Mr. Wycoff at bwycof00@leeu.edu.
Members receiving awards at the competition, from left, Ben Wycoff, Lydia Burton, Madelaine Burgess, William Fulford and Katie Philyah