[167] Two MTSU Students Claim Top Awards At Mock Trial Contests

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 28, 2009
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Lisa L. Rollins, Office of News and Public Affairs, 615-898-2919

TWO MTSU STUDENTS CLAIM TOP AWARDS AT MOCK TRIAL CONTESTS
MTSU Seeks Local Attorneys to Aid in Judging Mid-South Invitational on Nov. 13-14

(MURFREESBORO)—Two MTSU students, Lee Whitwell and Andrew Dellinger, earned top individual awards at mock trial tournaments over the Oct. 24-25 weekend.
Whitwell, a junior from Mount Pleasant majoring in political science, received a Top Attorney at the first-ever Georgia State University Invitational tournament in Athens, while freshman Dellinger, a mass communication major from Franklin, won a the Best Witness award at another tournament held the same weekend at Eastern Kentucky University.
Because there were an uneven number of teams registered, Dellinger served as a member of a bye-team at the EKU tournament.
Dr. John R. Vile, dean of the University Honors College, accompanied the MTSU team to the University of Georgia. Brandi Snow, an attorney coach and MTSU alumna, and Dr. Amanda DiPaulo, political science professor, accompanied the second MTSU team to EKU.
MTSU’s mock trial teams are supported by student-activity fees and by the Department of Political Science.
Currently, MTSU teams are preparing for the university-sponsored Mid-South Invitational tournament, which will be held Nov. 13-14. MTSU currently is seeking local attorneys who can help judge for this event, which—with 70 teams—will be one of the largest in the nation.
Attorneys interested in judging are asked to contact Pam Davis in MTSU’s political science department at 615-898-2708.
For more information about mock trial at MTSU, please contact Vile via e-mail at jvile@mtsu.edu.

—30—


With three Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and former faculty, Middle Tennessee State University confers master’s degrees in 10 areas, the Specialist in Education degree, the Doctor of Arts degree and the Doctor of Philosophy degree. MTSU is ranked among the top 100 public universities in the nation in the Forbes “America’s Best Colleges” 2009 survey.