Patrick Henry College’s Forensics Program is Creating Pathways to the Highest Levels of American Leadership

Purcellville, VA, March 05, 2024 — Patrick Henry College (PHC) college students Ainsley Stellman and Jason Chahyadi received 2nd place in Oral Argument at the 2023-34 American Moot Court Association’s National Tournament (AMTA) this month. Additionally, PHC’s Calvin Huh and Trinity Klomparens received 1st place in Brief Writing as Petitioner.

PHC completed the season with 4 out of the top-10 groups in the nation (Ainsley and Jason as 2nd, Trinity and Calvin as third, Sarah Fox and Finn Buck as sixth, and Andrew Bleiler and James Elliot as tenth). This is Calvin’s second yr profitable prime temporary, making him one of solely three PHC college students to win the award greater than as soon as! PHC has received 13 of the previous 19 AMCA National Tournament championships in Oral Argument and 14 championships for temporary writing in the similar interval.

A complete of 477 groups representing 113 schools and universities competed in oral argument this season and in the end UC Berkeley took the remaining spherical in a break up resolution in the finals over Ainsley and Jason from PHC on February 9-10, 2024 at Texas Tech. “Seven of PHC’s twelve pre-national groups earned a bid to the nationwide championship—the solely college to obtain such outcomes,” explains Sue Johnson, Director of the PHC Forensics Program. “All 4 of our allotted nationwide groups excelled by advancing to elimination rounds. Kudos to our college students and coaches on this accomplishment, which was the consequence of a lot laborious work and a real collaborative spirit.”

Peter Kamakawiwole, Head Coach for the PHC Moot Court Program summarized an thrilling season saying, “I used to be extremely proud of how the complete workforce ready and competed this season. We drastically admire all of your encouragement, prayers, and acts of service to us all through the season. I’m excited to see what subsequent season brings.”

“Although a younger school with roughly 400 college students, PHC continues its unparalleled monitor file of success in putting alumni in prime graduate packages, regulation faculties, and each stage of authorities,” mentioned Jack W. Haye, PHC’s president. “PHC alumni have argued earlier than the Supreme Court of the United States and served in the White House in varied capacities, together with press secretary of the Vice President. PHC has had extra graduates clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court than another evangelical Christian school in the nation.”

Just this previous July, PHC alumna Claire (Rossell) Cahill started her clerkship for the US Supreme Court beneath Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Cahill graduated from Patrick Henry College in 2014 with a level in Government. “PHC uncovered me to regulation for the first time, and I found that I beloved it,” Cahill remarked. “The classical liberal arts core curriculum helped me construct robust crucial pondering abilities,” making ready her not just for regulation college but additionally for her present place.