UNC Charlotte Students Bring Home Trophies from Regional Mediation Tournament

The UNC Charlotte Mediation Team brought home four awards from the regional Mediation Tournament held in Gainesville, Georgia October 4-5, 2013. The UNC Charlotte team competed against 10 other teams from such institutions as Western Carolina University and Georgia Southern University.

Alex Smyre won 4th place as best overall mediator and Nakeisha Armwood won 5th place as best overall mediator. The mediation team won 5th place as best mediators and 5th place as best advocate/client. Students participating along with Smyre and Armwood were Irvin Perez, Quinn Chavez, Andrew Poston, Andres Sing, and Victor Ononogbo. Coach/faculty is Vivian Lord.

Most importantly the mediation students, diverse in a variety of ways, became a true team, enjoying their experience together and feeling confident in their ability to help resolve a variety of disputes, Mediation Program Director Vivian Lord says. They acted professionally and represented UNC Charlotte well.

The mediation tournaments require students to use critical thinking skills on disputes similar to what they will face daily in personal and professional lives. The tournaments are not as much about winning as they are about sharing.  Champion students are those who collaborate. Students co-mediate with students from other universities. Listening and working together are the keys of successful peacemaking.

More information about the mediation program can be found on its website.