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Foundation Facts
December 2012
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At this date in December, it's looking as though Santa should have clear skies for flying around Nebraska and visiting all of the good boys and girls. I hope you are on that list!
Even though a little snow would help get us more in the holiday spirit, we are grateful for a week without precipitation for the recent State Mock Trial Championship in Omaha! Again, Skutt Catholic won the competition, taking their fourth consecutive state title. Their worthy opponent was the team from Ainsworth High School. See the story below for details of the 2012 Nebraska High School Mock Trial Championship.
Coming up right after the new year are the State We the People Hearings. The hearings are scheduled for January 8 on the Nebraska Wesleyan University campus. More information about the We the People competition may be found below.
Well, may your upcoming days be merry and bright. Have a joyful holiday season!
 Cordially,
Doris |
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Skutt Catholic Claims Fourth Straight State Mock Trial Title
Ainsworth High School Team Named Runner-up
For the fourth year in a row, the Mock Trial team from V.J. and Angela Skutt Catholic High School will represent Nebraska in the National High School Mock Trial Championship. The team defeated the Ainsworth High School team in the final trial on Wednesday, December 5, at the Roman L. Hruska U.S. Courthouse in Omaha. Judge Lyle Strom, Federal District Court for the District of Nebraska, presided over the trial.
The Skutt team, which presented the prosecution's side of a criminal case, will travel to Indianapolis, Indiana, for the national competition in May 2013. The team's coaches are Patrick Borchers and Judy Borchers. Mary Meyer is the teacher coach. Mary Rau is the Ainsworth team's teacher coach, and David Streich is the attorney coach. Streich was recently recognized by the Bar Foundation for serving the Ainsworth team as attorney coach for 22 years.
Taking third place in the championship was Northwest High School of Grand Island. Duchesne Academy was the fourth place winner. Other schools winning their regional Mock Trial competition and competing int he State Championship received honorable mention. They are Scottsbluff, Dundy County-Stratton, Ogallala, Wayne, Scotus Catholic of Columbus, Springfield-Platteview, Johnson-Brock, and York.
 | | An Ainsworth attorney questions a witness |
 | | Skutt attorneys prepare for closing argument |
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Donate to the Foundation's Infinity Fund!
Contribute quickly and easily through the Bar Foundation's Website. Give to the Infinity Fund in recognition of the Foundation's 50th anniversary. Or give a general gift, a Legacy of Liberty gift, or leave a bequest. The Bar Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization, and contributions may be deductible as allowed by law.
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Thanks to the Mock Trial Benefactors
Charitable Foundation, Attorneys, and Educational Institutions Contribute to Program
The Nebraska High School Mock Trial Project is fortunate to have four major financial supporters of the program. Annually, the Winthrop and France Lane Foundation contributes $3,000 to defray the cost of travel for Greater Nebraska teams to participate in the state competition. The Nebraska Council of School Attorneys gives $1,000 each year toward travel to the National High School Mock Trial Championship by the team representing Nebraska.
This year, and in three previous years, Creighton University has sponsored the annual Mock Trial Banquet by contributing $3,500 toward the event. In 2009, Metropolitan Community College awarded scholarships to each student member of the Mock Trial state championship team. In 2011 and again this year, the College awarded scholarships for 12 credit hours to the winning team and scholarships for 6 credit hours to the runner-up team.
The Bar Foundation, and certainly the Mock Trial students, greatly appreciate these most generous gifts. Thank you!  | Sarah Richardson, Creighton University, introduces a video at Mock Trial Banquet
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State We the People Hearings Set for January 8
Seven Teams Set to Compete on Wesleyan Campus
State We the People Coordinator Pam Hastings Carrier is busy preparing for the annual competition, which will showcase students' knowledge of six units of study of the United States Constitution. Lincoln's Southeast High School will enter two teams in the competition, and the following schools will each enter one team each: Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln East, Holdrege, Skutt Catholic, and Wilcox-Hildreth. The winner of the state competition will represent Nebraska at the national competition in Washington, DC, next spring. Lincoln's East High School is the defending state champion.
Chief Justice Mike Heavican, Nebraska Supreme Court, will address the students at the awards luncheon, after which the new state champions will be announced. |
Foundation Fellows' Publications Released in 2012
From Judicial Memoirs to Golfing in the Sand Hills
Judge Warren K. Urbom is the author of Called to Justice: The Life of a Federal Trial Judge, published by the University of Nebraska Press. Since 1970, Judge Urbom has served on the U.S. District Court for the District of Nebraska. The book's foreword is written by Judge William Jay Riley, Chief Judge, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
This memoir chronicles Judge Urbom's involvement with year-long trials that followed the armed standoff between the American Indian Movement and federal agents at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. The University of Nebraska press offers this further look into the book's contents: "His story offers a rare inside view of what it means to be a federal judge--the nuts and bolts of conducting trials, weighing evidence, and making decisions--but also considers the questions of law and morality, al within the framework of a life well lived and richly recounted." To learn more about this publication, visit the University of Nebraska Press.
Dean Kratz has authored Golf in the Nebraska Sand Hills - The Next Mecca for Golf. This books is described as being for the passionate golfer. It features colorful photos of "an unspoiled landscape" and tells the story of the visionaries who "saw the land and imagined what would make these dream courses a reality for ardent golfers." More information about this publication may be found at GolfintheNebraskaSandHills.com. |
A Special Thank You for Enhanced Dues
50th Anniversary Infinity Fund Contributions Also Arriving
 The Bar Foundation most sincerely appreciates the generosity of all Fellows, and is especially grateful to all of you who contributed in the Enhanced Dues category. Each dollar you contribute helps the Foundation helps educate more young Nebraskans about the law and promote programs that encourage civic learning and participation.
The Nebraska State Bar Foundation Infinity Fund, a permanent endowment to ensure Law-Related Education will always be here for the state's youth, is also receiving initial contributions. To make your Infinity Fund contribution, visit the Bar Foundation's website. Or, contact Doris for more information.
On behalf of the Board of Directors, thank you so very much for your steadfast support! |
About the Foundation's Programs
If you have questions about the Foundation's programs of Law-Related Education, please contact me at doris@nebarfnd.org1-800-773-5396 or 402-475-1042. Nebraska State Bar Foundation
635 S. 14th Street, Suite 120
Lincoln, Nebraska 68508
Nebraska State Bar Foundation
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