From left to right: Dr. Kyle Kopko, Maiza Rahman, Jean-Paul Benowitz, and Paula Knudsen Burke.
Elizabethtown College employees recently created a new award to honor an outstanding member of its Mock Trial team. The first George Ness Falkenstein Outstanding Advocate Award, honoring the college’s second president, was granted Saturday, April 12, at the third annual Elizabethtown College Pre- Law and Mock Trial banquet.
The Rev. Dr. George Ness Falkenstein, who was president from 1901 to 1902, served as secretary to the Board of Trustees and taught history, government and the classics. Falkenstein has been said to have had an influence on all of the forensic debating clubs on campus, to this day.
“He is without a doubt one of the most important – if not the most important – founders of Elizabethtown College,” said Dr. Kyle Kopko, assistant professor of political science. “In many ways, the Mock Trial Team embodies the academic and intellectual traits that Falkenstein and other founders sought to develop in E-town students – particularly the ability to think critically and critique and defend ideas.”
Dr. Jean-Paul Benowitz, director of Student Transition Programs and assistant director of Academic Advising, said that the origin of the idea to establish this award came out of his research for writing the new history of the college, which was published in February. “I thought this award would be an excellent way to recognize the true founder of the College, whose impact is still evident today.”
In many ways, the Mock Trial Team embodies the academic and intellectual traits that Falkenstein and other founders sought to develop in E-town students – particularly the ability to think critically and critique and defend ideas.”–Kopko
To honor Dr. Falkenstein and annually recognize the best student member of the Elizabethtown College Mock Trial Club, Kopko and wife Sarah along with Benowitz and wife Amy have funded the creation of the George Ness Falkenstein Outstanding Advocate Award. This year’s winner, Maiza Rahman was granted a certificate, a cash prize of $100 and an engraving of her name on a plaque listing the honorees. The plaque is displayed in the corridors of the Department of Politics, Philosophy and Legal Studies.
“Maiza was a dedicated mock trial participant for several years and, this year, she served as a team captain,” said Kopko of the awardee. “She also served as president of the Pre-Law Club. She has demonstrated leadership to her peers and professors and excelled in Mock Trial competitions.”
Recipients are determined by vote of the Mock Trial Team and Pre-Law faculty and by individual scores from Mock Trial competitions. The award recognizes the significant and on-going contributions of a competitor.
“It is certainly a high honor,” said Kopko, “Mock Trial members spend countless hours preparing their cases for tournaments throughout the academic year. This award honors their outstanding contributions throughout the year and, by naming this award after President Falkenstein, it also recognizes that the student’s accomplishments are part of a long tradition of academic excellence at Elizabethtown College.”