The South Windsor High School Mock Trial Club will be launching a new fundraiser to support travel and competition costs for this year’s state tournaments. The club will be selling exclusive merchandise, including: sweaters, hoodies, t-shirts, notebooks, and pins, with all proceeds going directly towards team costs.
Mock Trial has been a club at South Windsor high school for several years now, offering students the opportunity to explore the legal system by preparing and presenting court cases in statewide competitions. Members take on roles as attorneys, witnesses and bailiffs, gaining valuable experience in public speaking, debate, and teamwork.
Over the past few years, the club has experienced record growth. For the first time in school history, the SWHS Mock Trial team will be sending 4 teams to the state tournament, more than any other school in the competition.
Apart from that, the club has also achieved strong competitive successes. In 2023, one of their teams advanced to the state elite eight, marking their highest ranking yet. Last year, all teams that participated in the state tournament won at least 1 of their trials.
With more members joining each year, expenses have increased as well. It currently costs $1400 to register the team with the Connecticut Bar Association, plus bus fees. This fundraiser ensures that students can attend these competitions without having to pay out of pocket.
“This fundraiser is something that we identified as a top priority last year,” English teacher and Mock Trial club advisor, Mr. Hawie, said. “We knew we wanted to generate team pride, spread awareness of our club, and also have funds to expand our ability to travel to competitions and purchase materials.”
The new mock trial merchandise not only helps cover costs, but also allows members to showcase their pride and passion for one of their favorite clubs.
“We saw how other clubs around the school like Robotics and Science Olympiad had nice merch to represent their club,” President of Mock Trial, Arushi Sharma explained. “We wanted to show our spirit for the club as well.”
The team is currently preparing for their next competition, which will take place on December 17, in the Hartford Court House. SWHS will face off with over 50 other school districts from across Connecticut.
As Mock Trial prepares for their upcoming competitions, they would greatly appreciate support from the South Windsor community. Purchase merchandise using the following link: Merch Orders. Every purchase helps the club continue its success towards representing South Windsor at a state level.
