American Heritage Schools Sweeps 2024 State Championships in Speech & Debate and Mock Trial
The prestigious American Heritage Schools’ Broward Campus recently celebrated a double victory. The School’s Speech & Debate team secured its fifth consecutive state championship win at the Florida Forensic League’s Varsity State Tournament. Additionally, its Mock Trial Team won State Champions of the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition.
Five-Peat Phenomenon: Speech & Debate Team Claims Fifth Consecutive State Championship Victory
The American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, Speech & Debate team continued their reign of excellence, capturing their fifth consecutive state championship win at the Florida Forensic League (FFL)’s Varsity State Tournament in Wellington, FL. Competing against nearly 600 students from 56 schools across the state, the team was victorious, claiming the overall team award and solidifying their position as a powerhouse in the field.
In addition to the team’s impressive overall victory, five individual state championships were earned by the following students in their respective categories – Jaimee Canalejo in Humorous Interpretation; Esther Oyetunji in Original Oratory and Program Oral Interpretation; and Sophie Simon and Kennedy Hack-Juman in Duo Interpretation. Several additional awards were awarded to the team, showcasing the remarkable skill and expertise of American Heritage students in various speech and debate categories.
Furthermore, the Speech & Debate Program Director, Mr. Ryan Levesque, received well-deserved recognition as the FFL Coach of the Year, further highlighting the team’s outstanding leadership and coaching.
For more information and a full list of winners, please visit:
https://ahschool.info/bc-speech-debate-2024
Pre-Law Program Wins 2024 Florida State High School Mock Trial Competition
The American Heritage Schools, Broward Campus, Mock Trial Team won State Champions of the Florida High School Mock Trial Competition, marking the team’s sixth State Championship. In addition to earning the highest award, Taeyoung Kim won the Best Attorney Award and Jake Zeng won the Best Witness Award.
Led by attorney coaches Eric Schwartzreich, Criminal Defense Attorney; Michael Gilfarb, Assistant U.S. Attorney; Jason Glusman, Civil Trial Law Lawyer; and Nikki Laurie-Van Allen, Director of the Pre-Law Program at Broward Campus, the Pre-Law students successfully competed in every round, dominating their opponents as prosecution and defense. Team members Taeyoung Kim, Matthew Rodriguez and Madilyn Rice presented as Attorneys while Jackson Laurie, Katerine Fateev, Charlotte Wu, Gregory Musaelian, Jake Zeng, and Joshua McMurray acted as Witnesses.
The Florida High School Mock Trial Program was designed in 1991 by Annette Boyd Pitts and former Florida Bar Executive Director Marshall Cassedy. Hundreds of student participants have graduated, attended law school, and become members of the Florida Bar or other state bar associations. In the program, students learn critical thinking skills, legal reasoning, analysis, and professionalism, in addition to the structure and function of the courts and the legal process.
American Heritage Schools’ Pre-Law program is a four-year honors program taught exclusively by practicing attorneys and judges. Each year students take unique law school-level courses that no other high school offers, such as Trial Advocacy, Constitutional Law, Homicide Law, and Criminal Law.
The program culminates in a senior year internship when students experience the practice of law in real life. Seniors leave campus a few times per week to rotate through different law firms, agencies, offices, and courtrooms throughout South Florida. They also visit judges in Circuit Court, the County Sheriff’s Office, the State Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, and the United States Attorney’s office. The connections that the seniors make with practicing judges and attorneys are invaluable and often result in future law school clerkships and internships.
For more information and a full list of winners, please visit: https://ahschool.info/bc-mock-trial-2024
“We are incredibly proud of the dedication and talent showcased by both our Speech & Debate Team and Mock Trial Team,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, president of American Heritage Schools. “These achievements are a testament to the hard work of our students and coaches and we are confident that these talented individuals will continue to excel in their academic and professional pursuits.”
