Press Release

New Orleans— The American Association for Justice (AAJ) congratulates students from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law for winning the 2016 Student Trial Advocacy Competition (STAC) last Sunday in New Orleans. The winning team was Kelsey Ashworth, Rachel Holt, Katrina Mavroudis, and Jillian Shroeder. Each member of the winning team will receive an award of $2,000 from the Belli Society, and an invitation to AAJ’s 2016 Annual Convention in Los Angeles.

"Congratulations to the Drexel University team for a well-earned victory," said AAJ President Larry Tawwater. "We thank the great competitors from around the country and the volunteers who make this event possible.”

More than 900 law students from 150 law schools competed in 14 regional competitions across the country on March 10-13, and the winners of each region gathered in New Orleans to compete for the national title from March 31-April 3, 2016. In the final round, the Drexel University team defeated a team from Georgetown University in a highly competitive final trial by presenting the most compelling arguments in front of a panel of seasoned and esteemed lawyers.

For almost 40 years, AAJ has sponsored STAC to provide law students with an unparalleled opportunity to develop and practice essential trial advocacy skills before distinguished members of the bar and bench. AAJ and its members have committed their time and talents to STAC in an effort to inspire excellence in trial advocacy through training and education – an endeavor that has proved beneficial to both law students and participating attorneys. STAC is open to all law schools nationwide.

AAJ thanks the following individuals for their tireless work coordinating the regional and national final competitions: Stan Helinski, Rajesh Kanuru, Will Eadie, Gabe Zambrano, Elizabeth Finizio, Beth Feder, Erin Copeland, Megan Daic, Katie Ray, Christa Haggai-Ramey, Linda Rice, Daniel Pierson, Timothy Loranger, Jared Smith, Aaron Price, Gary Pillersdorf, Christopher Welsh, Melany O’Brien, Melissa Hague, Sarah Schindler, Matt Lee, Karl Amelchenko, Steven L. Shaw, Carrie Umland, Robert F. Prince, Justin Beall, Scott R. Bickford, Maria Glorioso, Lauren Barnes, and Fredrick Schultz.