[lawmajordonors] Top Gun

[Leonard, J. Rich]

Friends,

I am pleased to announce that Miriam Sheppard has been selected to represent Campbell Law at the 2022 Top Gun National Mock Trial Competition.  Top Gun is a head-to-head, winner-take-all competition among the best advocates from the sixteen top trial advocacy schools across the nation. Competitors are given only 24 hours to prepare a detailed case file for trial. Top Gun is the most intense, competitive trial competition in the country.  Miriam is a natural fit.

Throughout her time at Campbell Law, Miriam has distinguished herself as a top-tier, determined, and adroit law student driven to excel. Miriam began her studies at Campbell Law in the FLEX program while working full-time and later transitioned to attending Campbell Law full-time. Her hard work and natural talent have paid off immensely since she began law school. Miriam is the only student in Campbell Law history to win a championship as a tri-advocate on the moot court, client counseling, and mock trial team during her tenure in law school. Last year, Miriam and her teammates won the Regional American Bar Association (ABA) National Appellate Advocacy Competition and the Regional ABA Client Counseling Competition. This year, Miriam and her teammates won the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge where she was named the Best Advocate in the Championship Final Round. Miriam Sheppard is a fierce competitor who displays grace and tenacity in the face of any obstacle, especially those in the courtroom. Miriam Sheppard is simply the best of the best.

In addition to her success as a student-advocate, Miriam has managed her competitive advocacy responsibilities with the same level of dedication and preparation as she has managed her academic responsibilities, as she is a member of the Campbell Law Review. Miriam has also served as a teaching assistant for several Campbell Law professors and most importantly of all, she is the mother to her beautiful baby girl Genesis.

Top Gun advocates are also permitted to have a fellow advocate accompany them as co-counsel to assist with developing their case and presenting digital evidence during the trial.  This year, Camille (Cami) Wrotenbery has been invited to join Miriam at Top Gun as her second-chair.  Cami is an incredibly bright, talented advocate who has competed in several mock trial competitions, her most recent being the South Texas Mock Trial Challenge Championship as well. They will make an outstanding duo. Academic Dean Daniel Tilly will coach our Top Gun 2022 advocates this year, marking his return to coaching the esteemed competition since 2019.  Tilly is the only coach of Top Gun to win two championships.

This year marks the eighth time Campbell Law has secured an invitation as one of the top advocacy law schools in the country.  During that time, Campbell advocates have finished in the final four twice (Drew Shores, '13; Kaitlin Rothecker, '15) and won the competition twice (Jacob Morse, '17; Tatiana Terry, '19).

I encourage everyone to wish Dean Tilly, Miriam, and Cami the very best of luck as they compete among the nation's finest advocates at Top Gun this year. I do not doubt that they will make us Campbell proud.

Dean Leonard

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