Names of Note: Stanislaus names Mock Trial winner. It was a case of murder by snake
Modesto High School topped the latest Stanislaus County Mock Trial, where students take on roles in the legal system.
The fictional case for 2022 involved a defendant accused of killing a neighbor by placing a rattlesnake in his mailbox. Real attorneys helped the students prepare their cases and scored the results.
The early rounds took place virtually on Jan. 25 and Feb. 1, 8 and 10. The finals, pitting Modesto High against Turlock High School, were live Feb. 15 at the Martin Petersen Event Center.
Modesto High was assigned the defense in the finals, while Turlock handled the prosecution. Modesto advanced to the statewide competition, to be held online March 17-20.
These students won individual awards:
- Inn of Court Spirit of Mock Trial Scholarship Winner: Lucy Liang, Modesto
- Ryan Dickerson Award for Excellence and Leadership: Fallon Wolfley, Gregori
- Journalist (reporting on the proceedings): Rana Banankhah, Modesto
- Courtroom artist: Catherine Aquino Azevedo, Turlock
- Hall of Fame Coach Award: Mike Richards, Beyer.
Davis, Downey, Enochs, Hughson, Johansen and Patterson high schools also took part.
All of the students could read the case brief in advance. It said in part, “The medical examiner will testify to the severe lethality of the snake’s venom and the unlikelihood that the snake crawled by itself into the mailbox through a mail slot.”
The event is sponsored by the county Office of Education and the Education Foundation of Stanislaus County. Superior Court Judge Ruben Villalobos presided over the finals.
School administrators shine
Terry Metzger of the Denair Unified School District is the Superintendent of the Year for Region 7 of the Association of California School Administrators. She will go on to vie for a statewide honor.
The region takes in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties. The other 2022 winners:
Wynette Hilton of the Big Oak Flat-Groveland Unified School District, for people handling both the superintendent and principal jobs
Secondary Principal of the Year: Michael Shroyer of Davis High School
Middle Grades Principal: Heather Sharp of Sebastian Questa Elementary School, a K-8 campus in Tracy
Elementary Principal: Steve Merchant of Samuel Vaughn School in Ceres
Central Office Administrator: Heather Contreras, assistant superintendent for school leadership, Modesto City Schools
Secondary Co-Administrator: Rogelio Adame, associate principal at Central Valley High School
Elementary Co-Administrator: Jason Strickland, vice principal at Questa
Classified Leader: Angela Zeoli, director of purchasing for Modesto City Schools
Confidential Employee: Velma Silva, executive assistant to superintendent at Sylvan Union School District
Personnel/Human Resources Administrator: Diolinda (Didi) Peterson, assistant superintendent for Sylvan Union School District
Special Education Administrator: Christi Allan, senior director of secondary special education, Modesto City Schools
Student Services Administrator: Tracy Manzoni, executive director of student services for Patterson Joint Unified School District
Curriculum and Instruction Administrator: Heather Sherburn, assistant superintendent for Lammersville Union School District
Continuation/Educational Options Administrator: Felipe Meraz, principal at Roselawn Continuation High School in Turlock
Technology Administrator: Troy Ashton, division director for infrastructure, Tuolumne County Superintendent of Schools
Retired Administrator (for volunteer service to ACSA): Cindy Murray, RAC Charter
Bob Price Distinguished Service Award: Mark Campbell, superintendent at Calaveras Unified School District
Bill Ullom Award: Patterson Joint Unified Superintendent Philip Alfano
Elementary Board Member of the Year: Loretta Stein, Empire Union School District.
Names of Note recognizes people and organizations for their contribution to their communities. Submit items to jholland@modbee.com.
