Daily Pioneer News

Emeline Kau, Katie Willis and Jesse Neuheisel

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville won the National Mediation Advocacy Championship at Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa on Nov. 2.

The three-person team made up of political science majors Jesse Neuheisel, Spring Green; Jen O'Brien, Platteville; and Mike Oellerich, Muscoda led the 28-team field after the three preliminary rounds. In Round 2, Neuheisel established the highest individual score in the tournament to win an award as All-American Advocate. In the same round, Mike Oellerich, playing mediator, scored the fifth highest individual mediation score in the tournament and earned an All-American Mediator Award.

Each award carries with it a $6000 scholarship to the Drake University School of Law. UWP students have now won four such awards in the past three years and eight of them since 2000 when the first of these competitions was held at Drake.

John Rink, professor of political science and coach for the team, praised the skills of award-winners Neuheisel and Oellerich. "Jesse simply had the quickest and sharpest mind in the tournament. It was very gratifying to see him get the national recognition he's earned over the past three years. And Mike seems to be natural as mediator." The two students clinched first place for UWP in a championship round match-up involving the University of Texas-Dallas, Middle Tennessee State University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Rink had special praise for Attorney Coach Amy Collins White. "Amy's summer training program plus her selfless dedication to the team's success throughout the semester are the things that made this victory possible."

Other UWP competitors were Christine Nelson, Roscoe, Ill.; Emeline Kau, New Berlin; and Katie Willis. All three came close to winning individual awards of their own. As Rink pointed out, "Scoring is so close in these tournaments that sometimes excellent performances are overlooked. Katie's graduating, but Christine and Emeline will be back to try again next year."

Anyone interested in learning more about the UWP mediation or mock trial programs may contact Rink at (608) 342-1795 orrink@uwplatt.edu."

Contact: John Rink, professor, UWP Department of Political Science. (608) 342-1795,rink@uwplatt.ed Formatted By: Evelyn Martens, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194,martense@uwplatt.edu