The Abington Heights High School Mock Trial team won states two years in a row. They went to nationals last year and are going again this year.
The event will occur virtually over Zoom May 5 to 7.
The Mock Trial team is presenting a civil case in which a person was hit by a self-driving car and is now suing for damages. They have to decide who is at fault the company who owns the self-driving car or the person who was hit by the car.
The team does every aspect of a trial including opening statement and closing argument, cross examination of witnesses and presenting evidence etc.
Aiden Snyder is a senior at Abington Heights High School and played the role of Tevye in the school’s production of “The Fiddler on The Roof.” Perhaps this role helped him as he is the CEO of the self-driving car company who is of Eastern European descent.
“I love the law aspect of Mock Trial and I hope to get a college degree in law,” said Snyder
Faith Bennett joined Mock Trial as a freshman and is now a junior at Abington Heights High School.
“When I first started with Mock Triall, I was quiet. Mock Trial has helped with public speaking and thinking on your feet. It has taught me so much. It is a great feeling when everyone is dressed in their best attire that it feels like we are really in a courtroom. We are a tight knit group which I think has contributed to our success.”
Attorney Daniel Cummins is the team’s attorney advisor. His son Daniel was in Mock Trial while he was a student at Abington Heights. His son Michael is participating this year and he hopes his third son Christopher will also participate.
“The students in Mock Trial learn how to speak under pressure and public speaking. They also build confidence. I am proud of the kids and the work they do,” he said.
“What these students have accomplished is amazing,” said Leonard Romanski the team advisor and a teacher at Abington Heights High School. “It takes enormous amount of effort to achieve at this level of success in any endeavor. It’s more impressive because most of the team members had no real experience just a year ago. Their success reflects on their team’s motto “put in the work and hours.” It also shows their ability to work together as a team to accomplish their goals despite the challenges of the last two years. I’m so proud of their accomplishment and it reflects well on their own hard work and dedication, the support they get from their parents and on the school as the whole.”
Reenad Khan, Adam Tinkelman, Chloe Levasseur, Maddie Herold, Dane Huggler, William Newton, Thomas Russini, Noor Rutty, Aidan Lam and Zachary Riggall are the other Mock Trial team members.
