[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 14053]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO JONESBORO HIGH SCHOOL

   Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. President, today I congratulate the 
Jonesboro High School Mock Trial team of Clayton County, GA, for 
winning the 2007 National High School Mock Trial Championships in 
Dallas, TX. The championship consisted of 44 teams representing 40 
States, South Korea, and the North Mariana Islands.
  The mock trial program is an excellent experience for students, 
allowing them to further their understanding of court procedure and the 
legal system; to improve proficiency in basic skills such as listening, 
speaking, reading and reasoning; to promote better communication and 
cooperation between the educational and legal community; to provide a 
competitive event in an academic atmosphere; and to promote cooperation 
among young people of various abilities and interests.
  Jonesboro's long journey to the national championships began by 
practicing 3 days a week under the tutelage of prominent judges and 
lawyers in Clayton County. The team qualified for the National High 
School Mock Trial Championships by winning their fifth Georgia State 
Championship, and their fourth in the last 6 years, defeating a very 
talented Grady High School team from Atlanta. After winning the State 
championship, the team turned its focus to the national championship, 
where the students presented their case in front of legal professionals 
in a courtroom environment.
  En route to the final round, Jonesboro defeated the State 
championship teams from Hawaii, Idaho, Colorado, and Illinois. In the 
finals, they played the defense side against Kalamazoo Central High 
School from Kalamazoo, MI, in a civil case based on the tragic events 
in Texas City, TX, in 1947. The team vigorously debated who was at 
fault for an accident that resulted in the sinking of several ships, 
along with injuries and fatalities. Jonesboro did not back down from 
the runners-up of the 2006 competition, and they defeated Kalamazoo to 
bring the national title back to the Peach State for the third time 
since 1995, and tying Georgia with Iowa for the most national titles in 
the Nation.
  I would like to congratulate Kayla Delgado, Lindsay Hargis, Mathew 
Mitchell, Sandra Hagans, Kyle Skinner, Lindley Curtis, Laura Parkhouse, 
Braedon Orr, Brian Cunningham, Jayda Hazell, Tabias Kelly, Jurod James, 
Joe Strickland, and team captain Brittne Walden for their hard work and 
accomplishments. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the 
parents and supporters of the team for reaching out to these students 
and providing them with the leadership and guidance to reach their goal 
of a championship. The team's successes would not have been possible 
without the guidance of their teacher coaches, Anna and Andrew Cox, 
their attorney coaches, the Honorable John Carbo, the Honorable Deborah 
Benefield, and Tasha Mosely, and their student coach from Mercer Law 
School, Katie Powers.
  They have all made the State of Georgia proud.

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