Did Principal Pat Maddox and the Liberty School Board harass and discipline Alex Watson because of an eating disorder? Did their actions constitute a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act? The Hills-Beaver Creek Mock Trial team along with more than 2,000 Minnesota high school students comprising 176 teams will take on the roles of plaintiffs attorneys, defense attorneys and witnesses to argue these questions during the 2002 Minnesota Mock Trial Competition. Hills-Beaver Creek team members are (back row, from left) Paul Betzing, Aaron Blank, Brittney Olson, Becky Broesder, Tanya Leenderts, Kyle Sammons, Jody Rentschler (front row) Lee Jackson, Brittany Knobloch, Deidre VandenBussche, Ashley Buck and LaDonna Sandstede. Local and regional competitions are held in January and February, leading to the state tournament March 12 and 13. Teacher Coach Glenda Kuehl and Attorney Coach Terry Vajgrt will work with the Hills-Beaver Creek team. The Minnesota High School Mock Trial Competition is a citizenship education program sponsored by the Minnesota State Bar Association. More than 800 lawyers and judges statewide will volunteer this year. In addition to sponsoring the statewide competition, the Minnesota State Bar Association will host the 2002 National High School Mock Trial Championship in St. Paul on May 10 and 11.
Photo by Jolene Farley