A senate RESOLUTION

 

TO CONGRATULATE the Strom Thurmond High School mock trial team, coaches, and school officials FOR winning the south carolina bar's 2025 State High School Mock Trial Championship.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate is proud to recognize the Strom Thurmond High School mock trial team for winning the South Carolina Bar's 2025 State High School Mock Trial Championship, the team's eleventh state championship; and

 

Whereas, the Strom Thurmond High School team competed against eleven other high schools from across the State for the title. Bob Jones Academy of Greenville was the first runner-up; and

 

Whereas, the teams presented the prosecution and defense sides of a fictitious criminal case, State of South Carolina v. Dorian Delaney. Each team was judged on its presentation skills, rather than the legal merits of the case; and

 

Whereas, mock trial develops critical thinking under pressure and helps students hone other key skills such as collaboration, adapting to different audiences, reading critically and matching material facts with elements of the law, cultivating an understanding of the legal system, problem analysis, and teamwork; and

 

Whereas, mock trial is a flagship program of the SC Bar's Law Related Education Division (LRE), which was developed in 1976 to improve the ability of teachers to instruct on law related education. The program is supported by the Bar's volunteer LRE committee and made possible through the SC Bar Foundation's Interest on Lawyer Trust Accounts grant program; and

 

Whereas, the student members of the winning team are Mina Allen, Raina Barrs, Dennis Fraser, Joseph Greene, Julianne Harper, Reece Lowe, Carter Massey, Olivia O'Gorman, Michaela Owen, Toney Robinson, Emma Smith, Lillian Smith, Autumn Wingard, Evan Williams, and Adelaide Zelmer; and

 

Whereas, the team has flourished under the leadership and guidance of teachers Thomas Behr, Steve McKinney, and Denise Jackson and attorney coaches Blair Massey and Senator Shane Massey; and

 

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate appreciate the pride and recognition that the Strom Thurmond High School mock trial team has brought to its school and community and look forward to a future filled with further accomplishments by the team.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the Senate:

 

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, congratulate the Strom Thurmond High School mock trial team, coaches, and school officials for winning the South Carolina Bar's 2025 State High School Mock Trial Championship.

 

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Strom Thurmond High School Mock Trial team; teachers, Thomas Behr, Steve McKinney, and Denise Jackson; and attorney coach Blair Massey; and Fran Altringer.

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