Five students from Texas Wesleyan University were recognized for their skills in both the mediator and advocate/client divisions during the 12th Annual National Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament in Georgia.

Texas Wesleyan students Tara Ramfield and Tracy McArthur, along with Jennifer LaPrade (UT-Dallas), advanced to the final round and were awarded the trophy for top Advocate/Client team in the field of 114 students, who were representing universities from across the country.

In the mediation tournament, teams of three students each go through three preliminary rounds serving as mediators, advocates and clients. The prestigious panel of judges for the final round included Chief Justice Carol Hunstein of the Georgia Supreme Court. Ramfield and McArthur were selected as the top team in the final round over students from University of San Diego, Cameron University, and Boston University.

The Texas Wesleyan team of Tishouna Brown- Strhan, Cassandra Holland and Michele Sackett-DGracia earned multiple honors: #7 Team Advocate Client Award, #9 Team Mediation Award, #10 Advocate/Client Individual Performance (Cassandra Holland and Michele Sackett-DGracia), #2 Individual Mediator Award (Michele Sackett-DGracia), and #6 Individual Mediator Award (Tishouna Brown- Strhan). By placing in the top ten at the national tournament, each of the students receives the designation “All-American Mediator.”

The Texas Wesleyan Mediation team is coached by Barbara Kirby, J.D., director of the Paralegal Studies program.

As the top team in the Advocate/Client division, Ramfield, McArthur and LaPrade have been invited to attend the International Law School Mediation Tournament being held in Dublin, Ireland, in March 2013.