JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School Mock Trial Team; commend on excellent performance in Mississippi Bar Mock Trial Competition.

H. R. No. 112 *HR43/R2682* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2
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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Summers

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 112

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE JPS-TOUGALOO 1
EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL MOCK TRIAL TEAM UPON THEIR CHAMPIONSHIP 2
SWEEP IN THE MAGNOLIA BAR ASSOCIATION MOCK TRIAL COMPETITION AND 3
FOR RECEIVING THIRD PLACE AT THE MISSISSIPPI BAR HIGH SCHOOL MOCK 4
TRIAL COMPETITION. 5
WHEREAS, the JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School (JTECHS) 6
Mock Trial Team reigned supreme at the Magnolia Bar Association 7
Mock Trial Competition and delivered an exceptional performance in 8
the Mississippi Bar High School Mock Trial Competition, achieving 9
a third place finish; and 10
WHEREAS, established by Jackson Public Schools in partnership 11
with Tougaloo College, the JTECHS Program operates as a small, 12
independent program on the Tougaloo College campus, allowing 13
students to complete state graduation requirements for high school 14
while working on college coursework; and 15
WHEREAS, the inaugural JTECHS class of Regal Eagles began in 16
August 2018, and five years later, the JTECHS Mock Trial Team was 17
formed through the leadership of Principal Ashley Molden, whose 18
support allowed the program to be created and implemented; and 19
H. R. No. 112 *HR43/R2682* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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WHEREAS, after only one month of preparation, the newly 20
formed mock trial team entered its first competition in Spring 21
2023, participating in the annual Magnolia Bar Association Mock 22
Trial Competition, and the team achieved remarkable success in 23
their debut appearance, placing second with only one point 24
separating them from the winning team; and 25
WHEREAS, the program expanded in Spring 2024, and the growing 26
JTECHS Mock Trial Team competed in both the Magnolia Bar 27
Association Mock Trial Competition and the Mississippi Bar High 28
School Mock Trial Competition; and 29
WHEREAS, building on their success from the previous year, 30
the team won first place in the Magnolia Bar Association 31
competition and placed sixth in the Mississippi Bar statewide 32
competition; and 33
WHEREAS, the team continued to attract new participants, 34
expanding enough to enter two teams in the Spring 2025 Mississippi 35
Bar High School Mock Trial Competition, and the program reached 36
new heights of success as one team received third place; and 37
WHEREAS, in the fall, JTECHS entered three mock trial teams 38
in the Magnolia Bar Association Mock Trial Competition, and in a 39
stunning shutout victory, the three teams achieved an 40
extraordinary clean sweep, dominating the competition with first, 41
second and third place rankings; and 42
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WHEREAS, two JTECHS participants, Clarissa Coleman and Marvin 43
Sanders, Jr., performed exceptionally well and were recognized as 44
two of the top three attorneys in the competition; and 45
WHEREAS, showcasing their incredible talent and skill in 46
their return to the Mississippi Bar championship this January, the 47
JTECHS Mock Trial Team again ranked amongst the top teams in the 48
state with a third place finish, and Clarissa Coleman continued to 49
shine as a standout competitor, once more receiving honors as a 50
top attorney; and 51
WHEREAS, through dedication, discipline and mentorship, the 52
JTECHS Mock Trial Team has quickly established itself as one of 53
the most successful and competitive mock trial programs in the 54
state, and the key to this dynamic team's success has been the 55
amazing team spirit and hours of diligent practice put in by each 56
member: Anna Martin, Nicholas Sivak, Marvin Sanders, Jr., Marvin 57
Summers, Travis Collins, Clarissa Coleman, Faith Malembeka, Kelsey 58
Frazier, Aerial Bell, Lindsey Anderson, Elizabeth Stallworth, 59
Jolie Stallworth, Morgan Sanders, Makaila Faith Nixon, Christian 60
Steverson, Kylie Gillion, Kadience Tabb, Nadia Harper and Nadia 61
Davis; and 62
WHEREAS, the JTECHS Mock Trial Team has been coached by 63
Attorney Gayla Carpenter-Sanders and Attorney Catouche Body, both 64
alumni of Tougaloo College and experts in the legal field, and by 65
Ms. Felisha Burton and Ms. Alexandria Drake, teachers who inspire 66
H. R. No. 112 *HR43/R2682* ~ OFFICIAL ~
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ST: JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School Mock
Trial Team; commend on excellent performance in
Mississippi Bar Mock Trial Competition.
their students to achieve greatness and push them towards 67
excellence; and 68
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to 69
recognize and commend outstanding Mississippi students, especially 70
those such as the JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School Mock 71
Trial Team, and it is with great pride that we congratulate this 72
elite group of young advocates, who have brought honor and pride 73
to Jackson Public Schools, Tougaloo College and the State of 74
Mississippi: 75
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 76
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 77
commend and congratulate the JPS-Tougaloo Early College High 78
School Mock Trial Team upon their superb performances in the 79
Magnolia Bar Association Mock Trial Competition and the 80
Mississippi Bar High School Mock Trial Competition, and extend 81
best wishes to the team for continued success in all their future 82
endeavors. 83
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 84
furnished to the JPS-Tougaloo Early College High School Mock Trial 85
Team and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps. 86