Hillsdale College Mock Trial Student Takes Home Two Awards at University of Virginia’s Great American Mock Trial Invitational
Hillsdale’s team placed sixth out of 24 teams competing.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — Hillsdale College mock trial student Patrick McDonald ’26 won two awards at the Great American Mock Trial Invitational at the University of Virginia Dec. 5-6. Hillsdale’s team came in sixth place out of 24 teams competing.
“Our students’ success in the courtroom is a sign that Hillsdale’s focus on composition, logic, and rhetoric in the core curriculum prepares students well for legal work,” said Jonathan Church, director of mock trial at Hillsdale College. “This is one of the toughest invitational tournaments on the circuit, usually resembling the difficulty one would expect at the National Championship Tournament. To win a team trophy at this invitational is rewarding.”
“Our students’ success in the courtroom is a sign that Hillsdale’s focus on composition, logic, and rhetoric in the core curriculum prepares students well for legal work.”
McDonald won an outstanding attorney award with a perfect 30/30 ranks, meaning he was ranked as the top advocate on all six ballots over the weekend. He also won an outstanding witness award with 24 ranks.
Teams from Hillsdale will be competing at AMTA Regionals in February, which is the first stage of the American Mock Trial Association tournaments that determine qualification for the National Championship Tournament.