Tinian High School students win CNMI mock trial championship

Ten students from Tinian High School will be on their way to South Carolina to represent the Commonwealth in the highly-competitive national mock trial finals, after besting contenders from seven local schools during the CNMI Mock Trial Championship.

The local championship was coordinated by the NMI Bar Association. This year’s case — Commonwealth v. Julie Starr — was obtained and modified in collaboration with Colorado Bar Association from the case for the state’s 15th Annual Mock Trial Competition.

The national finals, which will convene mock trial champions from all over the mainland United States and other American insular areas, will be held on May 11-14, 2000 in Columbia, South Carolina.

An average of 34 states and two insular areas regularly participate in the National High School Mock Trial Championship. This will mark the first time CNMI will send representatives to the national finals.

Retired Associate Justice Ramon Villagomez was instrumental in initiating the first ever local competition in 1999. Students from Mt. Carmel High School bagged the first championship.

Efforts are now underway to raise money that would cover the costs of sending the CNMI student-representatives and their coaches to the national championships.

THS Parent-Teacher Association president Serafina King-Nabors said the education sector hopes to solicit financial support from Saipan, Tinian and Rota for the local team’s travel expenses.

Justice Villagomez reminded the CNMI team that more needs to be done to prepare for the hotly-contested national championship crown since they will be competing with their equally-talented peers from all around the United States.

Tinian Mayor Francisco Borja urged the community to support the Commonwealth’s first-ever official representative to the national competition which, he said, is a major step toward the development of the students’ bright potentials.

Mock Trial coordinator Sheila N. Bowman, who also chairs the programs committee at the Attorney General’s Office, said the local competition provided CNMI students the chance to practice courtroom techniques used by lawyers during legal tussle.

“They learn how to present a case clearly and effectively by gaining experience and knowledge in areas such as the stages of a trial, how to argue objections, and how to direct and cross examine a witness,” Ms. Bowman said.

Ten talented students made up the winning THS team. They are: Anthony Aguon, Patricia Aguon, Antonio Sn. Borja, Farah Cabrera, Natasha Diaz, Abigail Evangelista, Leveriza Mendiola, Karl Nabors, Sarah Perez, and Hee Yeon Rhee.

Their coaches are: Florine Hofschneider, David Perez, Lucy Blanco-Maratita, Loren Sutton and Janet King.

Seven CNMI public and private schools — Calvary Christian Academy, Marianas Baptist Academy, Marianas High School, Tinian High School, Mt. Carmel High School, Northern Marianas Academy and Rota High School — participated in the local competition.