Developing the next generation of advocates through competitive mock trial, driven by a commitment to scholarship, professional growth, and courtroom excellence.
The Team
NEXT YEAR:
2026 -27
Executive Board:
President: Ella Stauder
Vice President: Henry Odegard
Treasurer: Keagan Schmeckpeper
Risk Manager: Oluwasola Lasaki
Secretary: Gwyneth Gebhart
USG Senator: Zhayne Kelly
LASC Representative: Kaitlyn Ewing
The season begins in August 2026.
Check back in September to view the next AMTA Roster!
The Lore of Indy Mock
In late fall 2015… eight students formed the first Mock Trial Team at IUPUI.
Team Roster: 2015-16
Jason Feuerstine - President
Nicholas Rodriguez
Zach Shupe
Mary Slowiak
Victoria Azmonova
Elliot Boyle
Susanna Angermeier
Kathryn (now) Bischof
Coached by Alex and Allison Pierce.
“That first year was rough none of us had any background in mock and we didnt have a history to fall back on. Nick Rodriguez and I paid thousands out of pocket for us to attend tournaments. We stayed in atrocious hotels because its all we could afford. We didn’t perform great but we got super close and loved every minute of it. ”
After obtaining a B.A. Political Science and B.A. Economics from IUPUI in 2017, Jason attended IU Maurer School of Law from 2017 – 2020. Now, Jason litigates as an attorney for the Department of Child Services (DCS). What started as a team of eight has grown into a network of 100+ Mock Trial alumni. They're attorneys, advocates, paralegals and professionals across industries, across the country, and across the globe.
Maria Makeever:
Journalism, 2018.
Now: Creative Copywriter in Milan, Italy
“I joined the IUPUI Mock Trial team in my second year of college and found not just a team, but a community of people who loved to learn, debate, and perform. . . ”
“…My life today is a lot different than it was almost 10 years ago, when I first approached the Mock Trial table at the school activities fair. I moved to Italy in 2020, leaving behind some deep-down ambitions of possibly pursuing law one day. Instead, I chose a career in writing. Which, if you think about it, makes sense. Storytelling was always my strength as an attorney: carefully crafting a closing statement, threading together the details of the case, learning what to emphasize and what to let go, how to read your audience, how to make your words resonate. My hope is that more students can get involved and pick up on the wealth of life lessons and skills that Mock Trial has to offer, which extend far beyond the field of law and have continued to shape my life in so many ways.”
2016 - 2018.
Now: Paralegal, Marion County Public Defender Agency
Austin Krueger:
Austin with his Outstanding Witness Award for the 2017 Delaware ORCS, having earned perfect ranks for his testimony as Bailey Bell-Leon.
“Mock Trial was such a positive experience for me in the 4 years that I was involved that it's safe to say that without the Mock Trial program at IU Indy, I would be a completely different person. The program led me to find and develop talents that I didn't realize I had, gave me friendships that have continued well beyond my undergrad years, and helped to develop courage in myself and my speaking capabilities…. Mock Trial not only helped to prepare me for the legal field by giving me the opportunity to experience and practice concepts used in the courtroom, it gave me a connection through my coach to get a full time job in the Marion County Public Defender's Agency as a paralegal, a job I still currently hold to this day over 6 years later. Mock Trial didn't just provide me skills and support for my career, it handed me my career and I have been grateful ever since. I can only hope that the program can continue to grow and improve so that others can join and have a similar life changing experience.”
Austin, Maria, Victoria, Mary and Delaney
Delaney Kniesly
Paramedic Science 2021
Now: IEMS paramedic
“No matter what career path you take, you truly never know when you might find yourself in a courtroom.”
“At the time, I didn’t fully realize how much mock trial would prepare me for my career. As a paramedic serving the Indianapolis community, I’ve been subpoenaed four times in just four years. Walking into a courtroom can be intimidating, but I have been prepared because of mock trial.
I understand courtroom procedure and terminology, know how to communicate clearly with a jury, and feel confident explaining complex medical information in a way people can digest. I’ve testified in a high profile case involving a death in the presence of law enforcement, as well as in assaults and a DUI case, and in each situation my role was simply to explain what I saw and heard and how I treated my patient. Mock trial gave me the confidence and composure to do that well. ”
Madison Skaggs
Law in Liberal Arts, 2022
McKinney School of Law 2026
Now: Studying for the July 2026 Bar Exam, Graduate Legal intern for Marion County Public Defender Agency
“Although grades are important, they are not what gave me the confidence to stand before a judge or before my panel of interviewers. That confidence came from my experience on the Mock Trial team at Indiana University Indianapolis.”
“As certified legal intern at the MCPDA I was afforded the opportunity to sit first chair on a bench trial for a client charged with theft. During trial, I cross-examined two witnesses, made objections on the record, and delivered a closing argument. The judge expected me to know the rules of evidence and demonstrate basic trial skills. For my Public Defender interview, I was required to complete a mock trial and was evaluated on voir dire, objections, witness cross-examination, and a closing argument.”
“The trial and advocacy skills I learned during Mock Trial are what set me apart from my peers. With great certainty, Mock Trial at IUI was the primary reason I obtained my job.”
“This program taught me a plethora of skills: impeachment, objections, direct examination, cross-examination, opening statements, closing arguments, active use of the rules of evidence, public speaking, and confidence. This list is not comprehensive, but it demonstrates how much, and how hard, these undergraduate Mock Trial students work.
After conducting my own bench trial, I can say that mock trial is the closest simulation to the grit and preparation required for real trial work. In addition to their regular coursework, these students spend countless hours memorizing and refining their direct examinations, cross-examinations, openings, and closings. They also devote significant time to mastering the rules of evidence and anticipating objections, all while receiving intensive coaching to perfect their skills for the next tournament.
The skills I gained as a member of the Mock Trial team have been more beneficial and applicable to my professional life than any traditional classroom course could provide. I am proud to have served on the Mock Trial team during undergrad, but I am more grateful for the lifelong skills it taught me.”
Ethan Stevenson
BA/MA Computer Science, 2023
Now: Software Engineer, Oracle, New York City, NY
“Mock trial prepared me for my career by developing the core professional skills I use every day: leadership, collaboration, analytical thinking, and confident communication...”
“As a competitor and coach for the Mock Trial Team at IUPUI, I learned how to work within small, diverse teams to build case strategy, give and receive structured feedback, and perform under pressure. Coaching especially strengthened my ability to mentor others, manage responsibilities, and lead with accountability. Although I ultimately chose a career outside of law, the program trained me to present complex ideas clearly, think critically about evidence, and approach problems from multiple perspectives which are all skills that translate directly to real world how I operate in high-stakes, team-driven environments.”
Bridget Janney
Criminal Justice, 2025
Now: Law student at Drexel University.
“Mock trial completely transformed my undergraduate experience. I got to know the legal community in Indianapolis both on and off campus. My experience also allowed for me to receive a generous scholarship from Drexel University School of Law for trial advocacy. From all the way from the Midwest to Philadelphia, mock trial had opened so many doors for me that I never could have dreamed of. ”
2025-26 Season
Executive Board:
President: Millie Jones
Vice President: Helen McKinney
Treasurer: Keagan Schmeckpeper
Risk Manager: Oluwasola Lasaki
Secretary: Ella Stauder
USG Senator: Morgan Wegs
LASC Representative: Link Dooley
AMTA Roster: Millie Jones, Helen McKinney, Ashley Stofer, Ella Stauder, Keagan Schmeckpepper, Morgan Wegs, Zhayne Kelly, Oluwasola Lasaki, Henry Odegard, and Gwyneth Gebhart
Coached by: Prof. Sydney Kadinger, Sara Berge, Grace Palmer, and Allie Highsmith
Golden Dome Invitational, Notre Dame
Nov. 1-2, 2025
Our Record: 2-6
Boilermaker Brawl, Purdue University
Nov. 15-16, 2025
Our Record: 2-5-1
Spirit of AMTA Award recipient
Colonel Classic, Eastern Kentucky University
Jan. 17-18, 2026
Our Record: 4-4
AMTA Regionals, Dayton School of Law
Feb. 14-15, 2026
Our Record: 4-4
Outstanding Witness Award - Henry Odegard (as defendant - on trial for murder)
“Mock trial has been such a great way for me to build professional skills that are applicable in many different areas such as public speaking, collaboration, and problem solving. It has boosted my confidence and given me a space to try new things. I feel much more prepared to go to law school because I know that I have already practiced some of the things I will learn in law school - like identifying legal issues, applying facts to the law, understanding rules of evidence, and more.”
Millie Jones - Class of 2026, B.S. Informatics and B.A. in Law in Liberal Arts,
Begins J.D. at McKinney School of Law in Fall ‘26.