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Mock Trial Team extends competitive season with big wins at regionals

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Missouri State University’s Mock Trial team continued its remarkable 2023-2024 season by earning a trip to the first rounds of national competition.

With their winning performances at the regional competition in Norman, OK, the team now heads to the American Mock Trial Association’s Opening Round Championship Series or “ORCS.”

The ORCS will be held in Memphis, TN, March 7-10.

“We have 10 days to prepare for ORCS!” said Dr. Jennifer LaPrade, Mock Trial coach and assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

“I am so proud of our team,” LaPrade said. “These students work incredibly hard and represent the best and brightest of Missouri State.”

“Memphis, here we come!”

Team awards

Like many schools with Mock Trial teams, MSU sends two teams to a Mock Trial competition.

One of MSU’s teams earned a spot in the Top 6, said LaPrade. “This makes them automatically advance to the next round.”

The second team earned Honorable Mention, which puts them on the waitlist to compete if a spot opens up for ORCS.

Individual awards

Meanwhile, individual members of the team were recognized at the regionals for their outstanding efforts.

Zackary Collison – Outstanding Witness
Layna Mangiapanello – Outstanding Witness
Josh Roberts – Outstanding Attorney
Alyssa Roney – Outstanding Witness

 

Follow the Mock Trial team

Reynolds College faculty members receive Excellence in Community Engagement Awards

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Two faculty members from the Reynolds College have been recognized for their outstanding service to community.

The Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement Award was awarded to Dr. John Prescott, professor in the Department of Music, and Dr. William Sandel, assistant professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

MSU Provost John Jasinski was present to congratulate Prescott and Sandel for their achievements.

Reynolds College Dean Shawn Wahl said he was pleased to see two RCASH faculty be awarded for their efforts.

“The Faculty Excellence in Community Engagement Award is a way to recognize the significant contributions MSU faculty make outside the classroom,” Wahl said. “I’m especially proud to see Dr. Prescott and Dr. Sandel of RCASH receive this important distinction.”

Eight individuals posing for camera
L-R: Provost John Jasinski; Dean Shawn Wahl; Associate Dean Jason Jolley; Dr. William Sandel; Dr. John Prescott; Dr. Brett Garland, Director of the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice; Dr. Paula Patterson, Interim Head, Department of Music; Associate Dean Jake Simmons.

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Mock Trial’s winning season driven by talent, determination and hard work

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When Dr. Jennifer LaPrade organized MSU’s first-ever Mock Trial team in Fall 2020, it was in the middle of the pandemic.

Young woman giving presentation
Victoria Ogbeifun argues for the prosecution during Mock Trial practice.

That season, the team competed entirely through Zoom.

Fast-forward to 2024, and the Mock Trial team is competing in person against schools like the University of Arkansas and University of Missouri.

And they’re racking up the wins.

The team has won eight team awards and 22 individual awards this season. Mock Trial president and team captain Victoria Ogbeifun, a senior chemistry and microbiology double major who plans to attend medical school, has alone garnered six of those awards for her roles as both prosecuting and defense attorneys.

The team’s record has been so impressive, they were recognized at MSU’s Feb. 16 Board of Governors meeting for their outstanding achievements.

Sights set on regionals

Coming off their recent victories, the team is preparing for the first rounds of regional competition at University of Oklahoma in Norman Feb. 23-25.

“If we are one of the top teams there, we advance to the next level. If we are not one of the top teams, our competitive season is over, so we are working hard to be one of the top teams so we can keep going,” LaPrade said.

According to the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), winning teams from each regional competition advance to one of eight Opening Round Championship Series (ORCS) tournaments in March. ORCS winners will advance to the National Championship Tournament in April.

At their regional competition, MSU will compete against teams from University of Arkansas, Collin College, Hendrix College, Howard Payne University, Kansas State University, University of Kansas, University of Missouri-Kansas City, University of Nebraska, University of Oklahoma, Rhodes College and Texas Tech University.

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Setting himself up for a career in criminal law

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A criminology major and philosophy minor at Missouri State University, senior Zachary Arnold admits he is having the best time as a student and captain of the Mock Trial team.

He believes what he’s learning and experiencing will prepare him for a career in criminal law. He hopes to start law school in fall 2024.

“I want to specialize in criminal law after graduation in spring 2024 ,” Arnold said. “Currently, I’m undecided between prosecution or defense, but I’d ultimately like to become a judge someday.”

Arnold started planning to attend law school in his second semester at MSU. Eager to learn more about law, he decided to join the Mock Trial team.

Group of students stand for photo with trophies
MSU Mock Trial team poses in front of Strong Hall.

“Observing mock trials in Dr. Jennifer LaPrade’s evidence class made me realize I’d be able to learn more about criminal law, legal procedure, trial preparation and more through the criminology and criminal justice major than anywhere else,” Arnold said.

LaPrade is an assistant professor of criminology and Mock Trial team coach.

Arnold noted his classes have impacted him profoundly.

“Now, I have a better understanding of what justice is,” Arnold said. “I give all the credit in the world to the professors in this program who have gone above and beyond to invest in my education. Through this program, I’ve gained countless opportunities, friends and mentors I’m extremely grateful for.” [Read more…] about Setting himself up for a career in criminal law

Lt. Annesha Umbarger proudly serves as Springfield Police Officer

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Lt. Annesha Umbarger wasn’t sure what she wanted to do when she left the military.

But a “ride along” with a police unit pointed her toward a career in law enforcement.

“Being a police officer was not always on my radar,” Umbarger said. “All it took was that one day, and I knew at that moment, this is what I wanted to do. I loved the thought of helping people.”

Since then, Umbarger has proved to be a valuable member of the Springfield Police Department. Now a 16-year veteran of the force, Umbarger was promoted to Lieutenant in Nov. 2021, moving from patrol watch commander to supervising criminal investigations.

“As a patrol watch commander, it was my responsibility to oversee the allocation of our resources and deployment of officers in response to incoming calls for service and crime trends,” Umbarger explained. “It was also my responsibility to command critical incidents and major crime scenes.”

Now, a typical day for Umbarger ranges from briefings to monitoring calls for service to, at times, media interviews.

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