Girls Preparatory School Mock Trial Teams Win First and Third in State

3/31/21—Girls Preparatory School’s (GPS) Mock Trial program has experienced a year of firsts, including the most participants—enough for five full teams, which is more than 30 students—in the club’s nine-year history. This year was also the first for an all-virtual competition. 2021 also marks the first State championship for the school, with GPS team one placing first and team two earned a third-place finish.

The Tennessee High School Mock Trial Competition is organized, hosted, and judged by members of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. According to Stephanie Vonnahme, its Mentoring and Public Education Coordinator, until this year no school had placed both first and third at the state level. Yet another first in an historic year.

Reflecting on her four-year experience with the club, Reese M. ’21, president of GPS Mock Trial, said, “The biggest skills I’ve gained is being quick-witted and thinking on my feet. Mock Trial has helped me so much in participating in my classes at GPS—stating my opinions and standing up for myself. I also learned to take a huge chunk of information and decide what matters most to an argument.”