RICHMOND —
The B. Michael Caudill Middle School mock trial team placed first Feb. 15 in the Kentucky Middle School Mock Trial State Championship Tournament conducted in Richmond.
The tournament victory includes an invitation to attend the state high school mock trial tournament March 8-10 in Richmond and Lexington. The team will get to compete against the high schoolers if a bracket opening becomes available.
Schools in the tournament also included Clark-Moores and Foley middle schools of Madison County as well as Hardin Christian Middle School of Vine Grove in Hardin County. Two other middle schools were expected to participate, but unforeseen circumstances prevented them.
The Caudill Spartans practiced at least 10 hours each week in preparation for the tournament, coached by Madison District Judge Earl Ray Neal and school sponsor Dana Livingston.
Although the work was difficult, it also was fun and worthwhile, said team member Jordon Cottrell, 13. He said he enjoyed getting to do something he loved that also made his school proud.
“My biggest challenge was probably memorizing the material and applying it to thinking on your feet,” he said.
Cottrell, who was named Best Attorney for his team in the tournament, said he wants to be a attorney when he grows up, which was his mother’s dream when she was younger.
“It was fun to see it all come together,” said Maria Hoover, 14, “like what we worked so hard for — we were finally were able to put it all together. All the tears were worth it. Thank you, Judge Neal.”
For Abryhauna Duerson, 13, the best part of the experience was exceeding expectations.
“Just knowing that when we went up against Madison Central High School, Judge Neal had very high expectations (for us),” Duerson said. “And when we came to the middle schools, we kind of blew them out of the park!”
“My favorite part was the teamwork that went into the entire success of the tournament on Friday,” said Kyle McGlothlin, 13, who was named the team’s Best Overall Witness. “As we all worked together, we didn’t play individually. We played as Caudill. Judge Neal really helped us achieve the next level, he pushed us hard and it paid off.”
McGlothlin said he aspires to paleontology as a future career.
Luke Martinez, 13, though interviewed separately, Martinez almost echoed McGolthlin’s sentiment.
“The team, how we acted, the brotherhood and sisterhood, that was the best part,” Martinez said. “How we stayed together and had each others’ backs all the way through. We just kept it together like Judge Neal taught us, how we were supposed to sit, answer and conduct ourselves — and in the end we won!"
Martinez said he wanted to be a geologist, or possibly an attorney, someday.
For some students, including Autumn Clark, 14, Amelia Clark, 11, and Jessica Abner, 12, just getting to play a part in the mock trial tournament was thrilling.
“I get to act like anything when I’m a witness, and no one judges me,” Abner said.
For others, training and competing at such a high level was exciting and challenging.
“It was often difficult knowing the part when other attorneys cross (examine) you, because you have no idea what they’re going to say,” said Spencer Brock. “You have to know what you can and can’t admit to. We read the deposition so many times, but it was our job to know it inside and out, and we did.”
“Being able to work with Judge Neal helped us really improve,” said Evan Williams, 13. “He set our standards high and we were able to perform better.”
Others, such as sixth-grader Andrew Sisson, 12, found the competition to be less stressing than he expected.
For everyone involved, however, this year’s Kentucky Middle School Mock Trial State Championship Tournament was a time well spent and a victory well earned.
“Whenever I first started, I didn’t think I’d like this,” said Ryan McKinney, 12. “Later I just realized this is amazing!”
“I feel like this is our best team ever and that the kids really put a lot of hard work into it, and all their hard work has paid off,” Livingston said. “Our team was phenomenal this year.”
Education
Related Photos
-
Members of the state champion B. Michael Caudill Middle School mock trial team are, from left, Dana Livingston (school sponsor), Andrew Sisson, Spencer Brock, Luke Martinez, Autumn Clark, Kyle McGlothlin, Evan Williams, Abryhauna Duerson, Jessica Abner, Maria Hoover, Jordan Cottrell, Ryan McKinney, Amelia Clark, Brittany Marcum and Madison District Judge Earl-Ray Neal (coach). Photo special to the Register
Caudill Middle School wins state mock trial championship
Team will participate in state high school tournament March 8-9
- Education
-
-
Toyota bornlearning Academy graduates parents
Seven graduates received their certificates Thursday night, but not with the customary rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.”
It was a celebration of the parents’ six-month journey with the Toyota bornlearning Academy at Berea Community School.
The academy works with parents and caregivers of children from prenatal to 5 years old on ways to turn everyday moments into learning opportunities. -
Caudill Middle School student showcase
Members of the Caudil Middle School Jazz Band entertain the crowd during the school's end of year student showcase Thursday.
-
The Incredible Child: Support group for parents of special-needs children meets Tuesday at library
Richmond now has a local chapter of The Incredible Child, a support group for families of children with all types of disabilities.
The group will host the family-friendly event “Read to Me” from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Madison County Public Library in Richmond. -
EKU to host biannual Family Nature Day
Eastern Kentucky University’s Division of Natural Areas will host Family Nature Day on Saturday at Maywoods Environmental and Educational Laboratory located on the borders of Garrard and Rockcastle counties.
-
First Lady urges graduates to live by their values
Touching on her own college experiences, First Lady Michelle Obama urged Eastern Kentucky University graduates to live a life of service while building on valuable character traits that will benefit the entire nation.
Obama visited Richmond as the featured speaker for EKU’s evening commencement. She chose to speak at the ceremony because of the university’s recognized commitment to serving student military veterans. -
Board votes to reclassify full-time substitute teachers
Madison County Schools teachers and staff cheered Thursday night after a proposal to cut two contracted days from the school calendar died when board members declined to make a motion on the measure, either pro or con.
However, 15 educators in the district will see cuts to their salaries as the board voted 5-0 to reclassify full-time substitute teachers to para-educators. -
Little Shop of Horrors
The final performance of Berea Community High School’s production of “Little Shop of Horrors" is 7 p.m. Saturday (May 11) in the school's Kennedy Theater. Tickets are $5.
-
Madison County Schools: Move to cut two employee contract days fails
After three emotional speeches, chanting and some outbursts from the audience, all five members of the Madison County School Board sat stoically as board chair Mona Isaacs called for a motion to shave two days off the school calendar.
Approval would have effectively cut paychecks for everyone in the district, saving nearly a half million dollars in personnel costs.
-
County schools roll out Kentucky’s first ‘smart bus’
According to the buzz at central office, top administrators with Madison County Schools were jumping around “like a bunch of giddy geeks” after Kentucky’s first-ever, fully-connected, filtered “smart bus” rolled into the parting lot Thursday afternoon.
Superintendent Tommy Floyd attended a conference last summer and overheard another superintendent talking using an internet emitter students could access while traveling to college courses, he said. -
Sequestration cuts pinching schools
If you haven’t noticed the federal budget sequester, that may be about to change.
School superintendents are wrestling with budget shortfalls suddenly amplified by the sequestration cuts, and they’re likely to “pink slip” teachers to help cover the cuts. - More Education Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
