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Investing in Innovation: NHSMTC Announces 2025 Grant Recipients

Each year, the National High School Mock Trial Championship (NHSMTC), in partnership with the IADC Foundation, awards up to $10,000 in Innovation Grants to state programs that are finding new ways to strengthen and expand mock trial education. The goal is simple: to support creative projects that make mock trial more accessible, more engaging, and more sustainable for students and educators nationwide.

This year’s recipients exemplify that mission, tackling barriers to participation and creating new opportunities for learning across the country.

Arkansas: Empowering the Next Generation of Arkansas Lawyers — $2,000
The Arkansas Bar Association Mock Trial Committee is launching a free, one-day workshop on January 10, 2026, at the UA–Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law targeting rural, underresourced schools. This hands-on training will equip students and teachers with the trial advocacy skills needed to succeed.

Recognizing that many rural and low-income schools face financial barriers to participation, the committee will also establish a tiered grant program to reduce costs for teams in need. Together, these initiatives will expand access to mock trial statewide and strengthen the quality of competition across Arkansas.

California: A New Statewide Competition for Middle Schoolers — $5,000
Teach Democracy is creating the California Mock Trial Middle School State Finals, the first-ever statewide competition for students in grades 6–8. The program bridges the gap between existing county-level events and high school competition, encouraging new teams to form—especially in underserved and rural communities.

The new competition will also introduce Courtroom Artist and Courtroom Journalist contests, broadening participation and offering students fresh ways to engage with the legal system through art and storytelling. The initiative will strengthen California’s 10,000-student high school mock trial program and nurture a new generation of civically engaged learners.

Michigan: Bringing Mock Trial to Michigan’s Legal Deserts — $3,000
The Michigan Center for Civic Education (MCCE) is expanding its mock trial program into “legal deserts”—regions with limited access to law-related education and few legal professionals. With support from the State Bar of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Education, MCCE will host clinics and regional events in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, including Sutton’s Bay and Marquette.

These events will provide hands-on training for students in trial advocacy, courtroom artistry, and journalism. By bringing mock trial directly to these communities, MCCE aims to inspire interest in the legal field and strengthen participation in the statewide competition.

These innovative projects reflect the dedication of NHSMTC member programs to making mock trial education more inclusive, engaging, and sustainable for years to come. The NHSMTC Innovation Grant Committee and the IADC Foundation congratulate this year’s recipients and look forward to seeing their projects in action.

To learn more about the Innovation Grant Program or to apply next year, visit nationalmocktrial.com/grants.

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