FAU’s Mock Trial Team Finishes as National Runners-up
The ֱ̲ Atlantic University Mock Trial Team 2 recently competed in Washington, D.C. and returned home as national runners-up.
The ֱ̲ Atlantic University Mock Trial Team 2, part of FAU’s School of Criminology and Criminal Justice in the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, recently competed in Washington, D.C. and returned home as national runners-up. It is the team’s highest national finish in history.
“We are proud of our Mock Trial Team’s strong finish on the national stage,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “Our students’ exceptional performance reflects the high academic standards and meaningful learning opportunities that continue to elevate the success of ֱ̲ Atlantic.”
The four-person team, made up of team captain Adrianna Iacono, Sydney Goldstein-Rivera, Lina Sofia Vasquez and Jagger Weitzen, took second place in the annual Phi Alpha Delta Law Pre-Law Mock Trial Competition. The event is an annual competition held in conjunction with the law fraternity’s yearly pre-law conference.
In this national tournament, the Owls defeated Stony Brook, No. 1-ranked ֱ̲ 1 and Texas Tech 2. That propelled them to the finals, where they narrowly fell to another ranked team, ֱ̲ 2. It was an extremely close contest, separated at the finish by just four points.
“Placing as runner-up in this prestigious national arena reflects not only our students’ impressive advocacy skills, but also the collaborative spirit and excellence that define our academic community,” said Naelys Luna, Ph.D., dean of the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. “As national runners-up, our mock trial team has helped to further elevate the reputation of our college and our university on the national stage, and these students represent the pathways of opportunity an education from ֱ̲ Atlantic can open.”
In addition to being team captain, Iacono is also president of the FAU Mock Trial club and has been on the team for three and a half years. A Long Island, New York native, she is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in criminology and criminal justice. Goldstein-Rivera is from Lake Worth, is the club’s vice president and a communications major. She, Vasquez and Weitzen have been team members for one-and-a-half years. Vasquez is a graduate student from Colombia pursuing a master’s degree in social work, and Weitzen, from Boynton Beach, is a junior dual-enrolled at FAU High School, majoring in criminal justice.
The team is coached by two experienced trial attorneys, Frank de la Torre and Joel Feldman, who combine for nearly 90 years as practicing lawyers. The co-founder of the Mock Trial Club, de la Torre has taught at ֱ̲ Atlantic University since 1994, and is an instructor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, as well as interim associate dean for the College of Social Work and Criminal Justice. Feldman is an adjunct professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, with a specialization in civil law.
“Securing first-runner-up in the D.C. national championship is a testament to the dedication and resilience of our team,” said de la Torre. “Four years ago, we started as a small club with big dreams, and now we’ve proven that grit and an unrelenting belief in our teammates can overcome even the toughest competition. I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come – not just as competitors, but as colleagues.”
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