Illinois State’s Mock Trial Attorney Coach, Mick Hall, a 1989 graduate of Illinois State, member of the Attorneys Advisory Board, and attorney with the Hall Law Group, Ltd. in Peoria, presented the Mock Trial Awards. The award for Mock Trial Outstanding Witness went to Josh Rinker, a senior political
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From left: Barry Tolchin, Benjamin Brockschmidt, and Abisola Adekoya
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science major. Abisola Adekoya, a junior English major, was honored with the Outstanding Attorney Award. The Mock Trial Leadership Award, which honors the mock trial team member who exhibits strong leadership skills and makes significant contributions to team spirit and unity, went to Benjamin Brockscdmidt, a senior political science major. The Mock Trial Distinguished Service Award was given to Barry Tolchin, a political science graduate student who served as a volunteer coach for the team, recognizing this non-team member for his service and dedication to the Mock Trial Team.
Hall also presented the Carl Kasten Pre-Law Leadership Award to Josh Rinker. This award honors a graduating pre-law student who exhibits strong leadership skills and makes significant contributions to extra-curricular law related activities at the University. The award is named after Carl Kasten, a founding member of the Board and chair from 2002-2004, for his extraordinary commitment to pre-law education at Illinois State.
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Dr. Robert Bradley
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Robert Bradley, Pre-Law advisor, presented the Tom Eimermann Outstanding Pre-Law Student Award to Elise Melrose and Christopher Frank, both seniors in political science. This award is given to a graduating pre-law student or students who demonstrate the highest level of academic performance along with significant participation in extra-curricular University activities and community service.
The banquet also celebrated the recent accomplishments of the Mock Trial Team at the American Mock Trial Association’s national championship tournament recently held in Des Moines, Iowa. Illinois State excelled in individual awards with three students receiving All-American honors, something only three other teams in the nation were able to accomplish. Abisola Adekoya was honored with the All-American Attorney Award, and both Josh Rinker and Tess Green earned All-American Witness Awards. Illinois State’s team finished 14th in the division, earning a draw with Princeton University in the first round, defeating Cornell University in the second round, losing to Harvard University in the third round, and finally drawing with Duke University in the fourth round.