Golden Gavel Award for Mock Trial Coaching

This past weekend my wife, Anne, and I were honored to have recieved an unexpected award at the Ben Franklin Invitational Mock Trial Tournament at UPENN in Philadelphia where we were presented with the Golden Gavel Award.  The Award recognizes outstanding mock trial coaching and dedication to the program.

We thank our student team members for nominating us for this Award.

Anne and I have been working with the Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Team from Clarks Summit, PA for the past decade as our three sons worked their way through the high school and participated on the Mock Trial Team.  Our youngest son is currently on the team and will graduate next year.  

Over the past decade, the excellent students who have made up the Abington Heights High School Mock Trial Teams have one three State Championships and the only National Championship ever won by a High School Mock Trial Team from Pennsylvania in the 40 year history of the competition.

Anne and I truly believe that the high school mock trial competition put on by the Pennsylvania Bar Association changes the students' lives and teaches them skills that will help them for the rest of their lives (reading and writing analytical skills, public speaking, thinking on their feet) and also helps to greatly improve their self-confidence.

Please consider being a part of this competition by volunteering to be a Judge or a juror at a competition near you.  The students truly appreciate when lawyers come out and fill up the jury boxes for their competitions.