ABINGTON HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAMS WINS 3RD STATE CHAMPIONSHIP IN 4 YEARS

The Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team from Clarks Summit, PA won the 2024 Pennsylvania State Championship in Harrisburg, PA on Saturday March 23, 2024.  Judge Jennifer Wilson of the Federal Middle District Court of Pennsylvania was the presiding Judge.

The Team is the 2024 State Champion from among a field of over 262 Teams who competed across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Incredibly, this is the 3rd State Championship in 4 years for the Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team. Truly a remarkable accomplishment by a great bunch of students.

The Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team, in no particular order, is comprised of Zachary Riggall, Serena Mokhtari, Amishi Amit, Ava Shedlauskas, Madeline Herold, Dane Huggler, Ananya Phadke, Ava Whalen, Thomas Russini, William Newton, Aidan Lam, Christopher Cummins, Henry Mahoney, JT Healey, and Nolan Moore.

The Teacher-Coaches are Ms. Jen Tarr and Ms. Amy Kelly.  The Attorney Advisors are Joseph T. (Jody) Healey of Burns White and Daniel E. Cummins of Cummins Law.  The Team's Performance Advisor is Anne Cummins.

The mantra for the 2024 State Champs was "to be humble, to be kind, and to be the hardest working team" in the Competition.  Hopefully, one of the many lessons that was instilled into the students this season was that these qualities can lead to success in their future professional and private lives.

Here is a LINK to the video of Pennsylvania Bar President, Michael McDonald, Esq. of McDonald & MacGregor announcing that the Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team won the State Championship.

Here is a LINK to the local TV news story from WNEP-16 today highlighting the Team's success!  Here is a LINK another news story on the Championship Mock Trial Team from Abington Heights.

Sending thanks to all of the people the Pennsylvania Bar Association and to all of the members of the Young Lawyers' Divisions across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for running this great Competition.  Locally, gratitude is expressed to the Lackawanna Bar Association and the District Coordinator, Mackenzie Wilson, Esq. of Munley Law for all the work and time put toward making the Competition a success.  

Thanks also to all the Judges and lawyers and others who volunteered their time to serve as Judges and jurors.  Hopefully, someday, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will allow for rule changes so that lawyers and judges can earn CJE and CLE credits for volunteering their time to the Mock Trial competition as is allowed in many other states.  Opening the door to such credits will surely entice more to become involved and thereby fill the jury boxes for these students at their trials.

Now the Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team will represent Pennsylvania in the Nationals Competition set for this May 3rd and 4th in Wilmington, Delaware.

Go Comets!!