Samantha Jackson, of Goodells, eyes national moot court tourney in Phoenix

2013 Nov 22

Samantha Jackson, of Goodells, is one of four Saginaw Valley State University students hoping for success at a national moot court tournament in Phoenix next year.

Students Samantha Jackson, a political science major from Goodells, and Rachel Stocki, a business major from St. Clair, clinched a spot in the January competition after placing third in a recent moot court tournament featuring 26 teams at SVSU. A second SVSU team, featuring students Kayla Bargeron, an economics major from Midland, and Andrew Bonnell, a political science major from Whittemore, made it to the eighth round and could also qualify for the competition in Arizona. Their participation status will be determined in December.

In total, five SVSU teams competed in the November tournament at SVSU. Other universities represented included Eastern Michigan University, Aquinas College, Denison University, the College of Wooster and Youngstown State University.

A team from Eastern Michigan won the tournament at SVSU. Two teams from the College of Wooster also placed in the top four, along with the team featuring Jackson and Stocki.

January won't mark the first time an SVSU team has advanced to the national competition, despite the fact the school's program has only existed four years. Previously, four groups participated in the tournament. Six SVSU students have received orator's awards, two of which were at a national competition.