Bill Text: MS HR56 | 2010 | Regular Session | Engrossed
Bill Title: Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trail Team; commend on season of success for advancing to the AMTA National Championships.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-0)
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-15 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR56 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-HR56-Engrossed.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Representatives Perkins, Smith (27th), Brown, Gardner, Robinson, Thomas, Dickson, Hines, Clark, Whittington
House Resolution 56
(As Adopted by House)
A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE SUCCESS OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY MOCK TRIAL TEAM AT THE SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL COMPETITION OF THE AMERICAN MOCK TRIAL ASSOCIATION AND CONGRATULATING THE TEAM UPON ADVANCING TO THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.
WHEREAS, the Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team has earned a berth in the American Mock Trial Association's (AMTA) National Championships to be held March 26-28, 2010, on the campus of Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, after competing in the Southeastern Regional Championships held at Samford University's Cumberland School of Law in Birmingham, Alabama, on February 26-28, 2010, which featured 29 schools from across the Southeast; and
WHEREAS, on Sunday, February 28, 2010, Valley's Mock Trial Team was crowned as one of the tournament's Southeastern Regional Championship Qualifiers, posting a 6-2 record, beating schools such as Auburn University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Kennesaw State University; and
WHEREAS, Valley finished in the top eight schools in the Southeast to earn its first AMTA National Championship qualifying bid ever, and was the only Mississippi team this year to qualify; and
WHEREAS, Mississippi Valley State University may never beat the University of North Carolina in basketball, and it is even less likely that the tiny Itta Bena school could stay on the same field with football powerhouse Auburn University, but the team's win in the third round against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill proves that the "Delta Devils" are a force to be reckoned with in a battle of academic and legal oratory, argument debate and courtroom procedure; and
WHEREAS, dedicated to achieving this goal from the very beginning, the team members' persistence, hard work and determination worked like a well-greased machine to make this year's season such a success; and
WHEREAS, the nine-member team was led by senior political science major and student coach, Ivory Johnson, who was recognized as a 2010 All-Regional Outstanding Attorney, senior political science majors, Charise McSwine, and team captain, Louis Lassiter, who served as team attorneys, and witnesses, Antuan Haggan, David Fletcher, Jasmine Taylor, Sophia Briggs, Michelle Scott and O'Dell White; and
WHEREAS, the Valley Mock Trial Team has been superbly coached and inspired by Larry Chappell, who has served as the team's head faculty coach for the past 12 years, and assisted by the team's new attorney coach, Zachary Faison, Jr., Valley's special assistant to the president; and
WHEREAS, this amazing feat by Mississippi Valley State University places it in the record books as the only institution of higher learning in the State of Mississippi to earn a bid to the National Championships, and will be the only historically black university to represent the region; and
WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we commend the accomplishments of the Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team, which has instilled a great sense of pride in the student participants and brought great honor to the school, the Itta Bena Community and to the state:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend the success of the Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team at the Southeastern Regional Competition of the American Mock Trial Association, congratulate the team upon advancing to the National Championships and extend sincere wishes for success in the national competition and in all of their future endeavors.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Coaches Larry Chappell and Zachary Faison, Jr., each member of the Mississippi Valley State University Mock Trial Team, Dr. Donna H. Oliver and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
