Knightly News

2024 has been the best year yet for the Episcopal Mock Trial team with strong showings at the regional and state competitions. 

The Region III competition was held at the 19th Judicial District Court House in Baton Rouge. One Episcopal team composed of Brennen Botos, sophomore; Rece Davis, sophomore; Mason Kelly, freshman; James McIlwain, sophomore, Wylie Schexnayder, sophomore; and Tucker Guelfo, junior, advanced to the semifinal round on Friday evening. Guelfo earned outstanding lawyer and witness honors for this team. 

Another Episcopal team composed of Cameron Augustine, senior; Bailey Burns, sophomore; Kate Lyons, freshman; Alyssa Melancon, sophomore; Olivia Melancon, senior; Sam Messina, senior, also advanced to the semifinal round on Friday. Outstanding attorney honors went to Messina with A. Melancon voted outstanding witness. Messina said that the greatest lessons that he learned as part of Mock Trial for three years have involved “thinking on my feet, listening and responding to others, and being able to give a speech without a script - especially overcoming my nerves when it comes to giving an opening statement.”

A victory in the semifinal round led to a place in the final round on Saturday morning which Episcopal won making them for the first time in school history Region III Champions. Performance judges voted Messina outstanding lawyer and Lyons outstanding witness. Burns said, “Being in the courtroom was a little nerve-racking last year but this year I felt pretty comfortable both on the witness stand and during cross-examinations.”

The 2024 case problem, Wood v. State of Louisiana was a criminal case. B. Wood had been charged with armed robbery of a fictional bank. 

In Mock Trial, participants act as lawyers and witnesses for the prosecution/plaintiff and defense/defendant while learning about the procedures for trying cases.  Students increase their knowledge of the law in general, skills in critical thinking, and confidence in public speaking. Burns shares that the skills she has learned in Mock Trail have helped outside of the competition: “Mock Trial has helped me to become more confident speaking in front of large groups of people, which is great for giving presentations at school.” The team is coached by attorneys Barbara Irwin, Jason Melancon, Paolo Messina, and Joseph Scott, and sponsored by Episcopal Social Studies Teachers Ms. Anita Gilmore and Dr. Rebecca Kuhn.

Dr. Rebecca Kuhn, Global and Social Studies Director, Exchange Program Coordinator, and AP Psychology teacher, has taught social studies classes at Episcopal since 2016 including AP World History, World History, US History, and US Government.  Prior to moving to Baton Rouge, she lived and taught high school in South Korea and South Florida. She holds degrees from Sterling College, The University of Kansas, and Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Kuhn enjoys travelling, reading, and singing. She is married to Dr. Alan Newton.

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