Howard Payne University students Rebeca Puente, senior from Waskom, and Isaac Sommers, junior from Boerne, were among an elite group of Texas university students to receive year-end awards from the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association. Following the pair’s successful Moot Court season, Sommers was named the second overall speaker and Puente was named the ninth overall speaker for the year.

Moot Court offers undergraduate students the opportunity to cultivate their understanding of law interpretation, analytical debate, jurisprudence and case precedents through Supreme Court argument simulation.

Puente and Sommers’ most recent tournament was the 2015-16 American Collegiate Moot Court Association National Tournament held at California State University in January. There the duo advanced to out rounds and ended in the top 32. They also placed third in the brief writing component of the tournament.

They qualified for the national tournament following the Texas A&M School of Law Regional Moot Court tournament during which they were named finalists.

Lorianna Kelley, assistant professor of government, coaches the team.

“Rebeca and Isaac have competed against hundreds of teams from universities across Texas and these year-end awards prove they are among the best in the state,” said Kelley. “I’m very proud of what they have accomplished this season.”

Pictured above: HPU students Rebeca Puente, left, and Isaac Sommers received year-end awards from the Texas Undergraduate Moot Court Association. They are pictured following an October tournament.