Even though it was the team’s first try, first semester, and first national tournament, the Monroe College Mock Trial team members showed themselves to be very much for real on April 8 and 9 as they travelled to Chicago for the John Marshall Law School National Diversity Mock Trial competition.
Team captain Brandon Washington, Darnell Smith and Yeni Yrizarry, advised by faculty-advisor Professor Raniece Medley, competed expertly in a field of 78 competitors representing undergraduate institutions across the nation.
Given a criminal trial and homicide case that they had to prepare both prosecution and defense cases for, senior Yeni Yrizarry, a Criminal Justice major, advanced to the final round where she finished third overall and her hard work and preparation earned her $15,000 in tuition waivers for Earle Mack Law School at Drexel University (Pennsylvania) and $9,000 of tuition waivers to the John Marshall Law School. She also got an impressive trophy to round out her accomplishment.
Maybe it’s called a “Mock Trial” team, but there’s nothing pretend about Monroe’s success! |