Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Two high school mock trial teams from the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District will represent Region One at the State Mock Trial Championships scheduled for March 2-4 in Dallas.
The mock trial teams from Edinburg High School and Vela High School clinched the top two spots after competing against 23 teams from the area during the Region One ESC Mock Trial Competition held in January.
“We are so proud of the Edinburg High School Mock Trial team who worked very hard to gain top honors with a first-place finish at the regional competition,” Edinburg High School Principal Yesenia Molina said. “These students were determined to out-motion and out-object the competition and we wish them well in the state championships.”
Vela High School earned runner-up honors and McAllen Memorial High School earned a third-place finish. Because of the number of participating schools in the regional competition, the top three teams will advance to the state competition.
“Our Vela High School students know that success only comes through hard work and dedication, and what motivates them is the determination to score amongst the highest teams at the state level,” Vela High School Principal Sylvia Ledesma said. “Our students know that to succeed, long hours of practice pay off when they are against their opponent and their performance proves to be of a higher intellectual caliber. As true VHS mock trial students, they work as a team to ensure success.”
This year, the Courtroom Sketch Artist Competition category was added to the regional competition. Students were asked to document the court proceedings by depicting an actual courtroom scene observed during their team’s trial. Edinburg High School student Yamile De Leon tied for first place and will also be advancing to the state competition.
Members of the first-place team from Edinburg High School, include Karina Alfaro, Dana Cruz, Yamile De Leon, Yaneth De Leon, Vanessa Diaz, Raul Mendoza, Angel Moyeda, Chrisell Navarrete, Bryan Lopez, Victor Torres, Miranda Velazquez, and Sandra Cardona, Coach.
Members of the runner-up team from Robert Vela High School, include Marco Avila, Adam Castaneda, Sierra Garcia, Amy Marr, Alyssa Garza, Anna Pena, Ashley Pena, Cynthia Perez, Christopher Rios, Andrew Solis, Madilyn Trevino, and Vanessa Villarreal, Coach.
The Hidalgo County Bar Association also donated scholarship checks to the top teams. The Edinburg High School Mock Trial Team will receive a $1,500 scholarship check and the Vela High School Mock Trial Team will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship check.
