Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice (SHSU-COCJ) student Zarek Sain earned First Place Champion and the Honorable Morris L. Overstreet Best Oral Advocate Award in the 2025 Honorable Belinda J. Hill Mock Trial Competition. The two-day event, August 4-5, featured multiple rounds of trials for local interns and law students interested in showcasing their advocacy skills.
“One of the biggest lessons I learned is that anything is
possible if you are willing to give 200-percent,” Sain said. “Success does not
come easy, but with hard work, confidence and persistence, you can achieve your
biggest goals.”
Each round of the competition was evaluated by practicing
attorneys with over three years of experience using a structured rubric. The
final round was judged by the Honorable Belinda J. Hill herself.
“I was honored to win Best Oral Advocate in each round and
ultimately the final elimination round,” Sain said. “This competition sharpened
my advocacy skills and pushed me to believe in myself.”
With plans to enroll in law school next fall, Sain is eager
to develop his leadership and decision-making skills through both community and
campus involvement. The senior serves as the polemarch of the Rho Pi Chapter of
Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., the treasurer of the National Black Law Students
Association, a member of the Elliot T. Bowers Honors College, and
the ELITE program. This year, he has also been nominated to join the Student
Government Association’s Student Justice Board.
Sain learned about the competition through his summer
internship with the 180th District Criminal Court, presided over by
Judge Da’Sean Jones, which equipped him with the necessary tools for success.
“My internship prepared me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
I gained first-hand exposure to courtroom etiquette, trial advocacy and the
proper use of objections. I also learned how to research case law and observe
the strategies attorneys use to be effective advocates,” Sain said. “Watching
both attorneys and judges in action gave me a real understanding of how cases
are handled and how the courtroom should be run, which directly helped me in
the competition.”
As his academic journey with SHSU reaches a close, he continues
to grow his professional network and explore experiential learning
opportunities. Next summer, Sain will begin an internship with the 263rd
District Criminal Court under Judge Melissa Morris.
“I’m very excited about this opportunity because it will
allow me to continue learning directly in the courtroom and gain the hands-on
experience that I’ll need for law school and beyond,” he said.
To explore criminal justice internship opportunities, contact the College of Criminal Justice Internship and Career Services Office.
-END-
This article was originally published by Today@Sam on Sam Houston State University's website.