Northwood University students earned the prestigious Spirit of the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA) Award during recent tournaments at Harvard University and Northwestern University.
The Spirit of AMTA Award is one of the most meaningful honors in collegiate mock trial, recognizing the team that best exemplifies civility, justice, and fair play before, during, and after competition. Uniquely, the award is determined by student competitors themselves, who vote for the program they believe demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and integrity.
Northwood teams at both tournaments received this honor — an uncommon achievement that reflects the culture of courtesy, preparation, and character cultivated within Northwood’s program.
“Winning the Spirit of AMTA Award at two separate tournaments on the same weekend is truly exceptional,” said Northwood Mock Trial Coach Dr. DeLois Leapheart. “This award speaks directly to who our students are. They compete with intensity but also with respect — and being recognized by their peers for that is incredibly meaningful.”
Harvard University Tournament Results
Northwood students competing at Harvard on Nov. 8-9 included Excellent Abikphi, Evelyn Wells, Isabella DeLong, Gabriel Shelton, Barrett Tefft, Gabriel Laske, Conrad Waldie, and Aaron Harvey.
Over the course of the tournament, Northwood earned strong results, including a win over MIT; split ballots in a tightly contested round against Brown University; and narrow losses to the University of Texas and Tufts University.
In addition to the team award, Harvey earned an Outstanding Witness Award, and Tefft won an Outstanding Attorney Award.
The team was assisted by Assistant Coach Jacob Walters, who traveled with Coach Leapheart to guide the students at Harvard.
Northwestern University Tournament Results
Northwood students competing at Northwestern Nov. 8-9 included Parker Maples, Layla Izzat, Skylar Hundley, Amanda Zeller, Julian Lee, Denilson Hernandez, Johnathan Schwegler, and Evan Baker.
Northwood delivered competitive performances throughout the weekend, including split ballots against Case Western Reserve University and hard-fought trials against the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Ohio State University, and the University of Chicago.
Assistant Coaches Riley Hayer and Stephen Dunn supported the Northwestern team.
About Northwood University Mock Trial
Northwood University Mock Trial competes in tournaments across the nation and participates in the official season governed by the American Mock Trial Association. The program has a long track record of competitive success, individual awards, and national-level recognition—strengthening Northwood students’ analytical thinking, public speaking, and advocacy skills while advancing the university’s mission to develop ethical, free-enterprise leaders who drive global social and economic progress.
For more information, visit https://www.northwood.edu/student-life/organizations/mock-trial/.
