ITTA BENA, Miss. —The Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team has been busy.
The team recently competed in the Third Annual Ody Owl Mock Trial Classic at the Mississippi University for Women, and in January, they competed in the Eighth Annual Argo Invitational Mock Trial Tournament at the University of West Florida.
The competition was highlighted by a couple of students who earned top individual honors in each event.
Donovan Brownlee, a junior Pre-Law/Legal Studies and Government and Politics double major from Cleveland, Ohio, won an outstanding attorney award for the Plaintiff for his role as a closing attorney in the Argo Invitational.
Jasmine Murphy of Itta Bena and Brownlee also earned individual awards at the Ody Owl Classic.
Murphy brought home another witness award, earning a perfect score. Brownlee won another outstanding attorney award, earning a perfect score for his role as a closing attorney.
In both events, the team scored well and had attorneys and witnesses to rank on the judge's ballots.
Overall in the two tournaments, the team competed against the University of Alabama, Texas A&M, Mississippi University for Women, Middle Tennessee State University and Mississippi College.
In addition to Brownlee and Murphy, the team is also comprised of Co-Captain Kambreca Mitchell of Greenwood; Mychal Barnum of Memphis; Jada Brinson on Miami, Fla.; Nadia Crawford of Atlanta; Alexxus Ervins of Laurel; Rodarius Turner of Indianola; and Chelsea Washington of Yazoo City and Jesiah Williams of Batesville.
The coaches for the Mock Trial Team are Neysha Sanders, Esq. Assistant Professor of Legal Studies. Attorney Sanders coordinates the Pre-Law/Legal Studies Program, serves as University Pre-Law advisor and is a member of Sanders and Sanders Law Firm and Dr. Larry W. Chappell, Professor of Political Science and Coordinator of the Government and Politics Program. The Volunteer coach is Attorney Teisha Stoner.
The program is sponsored by The Department of Social Sciences, The Office of Academic Affairs, The Office of University Advancement, The Office of Sponsored Programs, and The Office of the President and the Leflore County Office of Supervisors.
Their next tournament is the Jackson Regional Mock Trial Tournament, February 15-17, hosted by the Mississippi College School of Law in Jackson.