Belmont University’s undergraduate American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) team recently participated in the 2018 AMTA Regional Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio. The competition, hosted by Xavier University, included 25 other collegiate teams. In its second year of competition, Belmont’s team garnered its region’s Spirit of AMTA award, given “to the team that best exemplifies the ideals of honesty, civility and fair play.”
President of Belmont’s undergraduate AMTA team Matt Nino said, “This year Belmont’s Undergraduate Mock Trial Team competed in Cincinnati, Ohio against some of the best schools in the nation. I am so incredibly proud of our members’ motivation and sportsmanship throughout the entire competition. Taking home the Spirit of AMTA Award meant a lot to us. We are so excited about the potential of this team going forward as we expect the organization to grow and improve even further.”
The undergraduate Mock Trial team is coached by Belmont second year law student Margaret Conner and is a student-led, interdisciplinary team whose members hail from three colleges. Representatives include Jack C. Massey College of Business students Chloe Bidne (social entrepreneurship) and Andrew Doubek (entrepreneurship); Curb College of Entertainment and Music Business students Matt Nino (music business), Karl Kleppe (music business), Sarah Lancaster (motion pictures) and College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences students Kevin Botros (philosophy and political science double major), Meghan Hickok (political science) and Hunter Lindsey (politics and public law).
AMTA serves as the governing body for intercollegiate mock trial competition. Through engaging in trial simulations in competition with teams from other institutions, students develop critical thinking and public speaking skills, as well as a knowledge of legal practices and procedures. AMTA sponsors regional and national-level competitions, as well as providing interesting and complex case materials for academic use.
Belmont’s team is partially sponsored by Interdisciplinary Studies and Global Education.
