Meet Our Team
Paul Viscarbro
Senior
Mock Trial Leadership Position: President
Awards
Dragon Invitational Attorney, Drexel University, 15 Ranks
2022 All-Regional Attorney, 19 Ranks
Tupper Classic Attorney, Bryant Mock Trial Invitational 2022- 16 Ranks
Big Red Invitational Classic Attorney, Cornell University Invitational 2022– 18 Ranks
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Attorney, Michigan State University Invitational-18 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Middletown, New York
Majors: English and Psychology
Other Campus Activities: Currently in an exclusive relationship with Mock Trial
Paul Viscarbro wants everyone to know that he is on the DP Dough VIP list. What an achievement!
Pauline Gordula
Sophomore
Mock Trial Leadership Position: YJ Tournament Director
Personal Bio
Hometown: Quezon City, Philippines
Major in Political Science with Minors in Journalism and Legal Studies
Other Campus Activities: Students’ Association Government, First Year Fellow, FASA. I work at the Registrar’s Office & Office of Admissions!
Pauline is in the .00045% of listeners of the Beatles!
Sadie Korchma
Sophomore
Mock Trial Leadership Position: Director of Publicity
Awards
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Witness, Michigan State University Invitational-16 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Major: Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
Other Campus Activities: PAWS, Society of Earth and Environmental Scientists
As for facts, Sadie’s got many. One was that she had spinal surgery because her spine was just silly. But, who could have known that Sadie also has six pets!!
Amy Zheng
Junior
Mock Trial Leadership Position:
Hometown: Queens, New York
Majors: International Relations and East Asian Studies with a minor in Digital Media Studies
Other Campus Activities: Badminton Club and UR Presidential Advisory Council
During her childhood, Amy once had two pet rabbits, and they ran away because they couldn’t handle the young Amy’s mischief and bullying.
William Bothe
Senior
Hometown: Windham County, Connecticut
Major: International Relations
Other Campus Activities: Chamber Orchestra, Cards Club, Simulation Gaming Association, Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council, Undergraduate Political Science and International Relations Council
Will wants everyone to know that he plays two music instruments which are the piano and cello. He also speaks three languages: English, German and French. Finally, he absolutely LOVES to edit Wikipedia and has even been to several Wikipedia-related conferences.
Isabella Rocha
Junior
Awards
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Attorney, Michigan State University Invitational-18 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Somerset, Massachusetts
Majors: Economics and Political Science
Other Campus Activities: Model UN, College Democrats
Isabella is a Texas fanatic! She loves catching up on Texas news, as well as preparing famous Texas dishes. She wants everyone to know that her favorite celebrity is Davy Crockett, and that she always Remembers the Alamo throughout the day in everything that she does!!!!!!
Sunahra Tanvir
Junior
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Major: Political Science
Other Campus Activities: Alpha Phi Omega, She’s the First, Campus Times
Sunahra has lied twice and would cry every time her mom would pick one out and kill it.
Aniela Giarmo
First Year
Personal Bio
Hometown: Asheboro, North Carolina
Majors in Psychology & Political Science and a minor in Philosophy
Other Campus Activities: Model UN
Aniela volunteers at Pawsitive Cat Cafe! Meow that’s pawsome!
Daniel Menis
Sophomore
Hometown: Dunwoody, Georgia
Major: Chemical Engineering
Other Campus Activities: Improv, Engineers Without Borders, AICHE
Unfortunately, Daniel once ruined a summer camp production of “Annie.” TmT
John Gangemi
Sophomore
Hometown: Buffalo New York
Major/Minor: Major in History with a Minor in Legal studies
Other Campus Activities: Exclusive with Mock Trial UwU
John plays the guitar, bass guitar, and double bass. Basically, John is adept at playing any string instrument.
Daisy Munoz Castro
Sophomore
Awards
Outstanding Witness: 18 Ranks– Geneseo Joust, 2023
Personal Bio
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Major: Political Science and History
Other Campus Activities: UPSIRC
Daisy has two adorable cats!!
Matan Kotler-Berkowitz
Junior
Mock Trial Leadership Position: Vice President
Awards
All Regional Witness- 16 ranks
Outstanding Attorney: 17 ranks– Bryant’s Tupper Classic
Personal Bio
Hometown: Waltham, Massachusetts
Majors: Political Science and Computer Science
Other Campus Activities: Hillel
Matan can wiggle his knuckles without moving the rest of his hand. It has been described by some people as “very cool” and others as “the most disturbing thing I’ve seen all week.” Very cool, Matan!
Blaine Dillingham
Senior
Mock Trial Leadership
Position: Fundraising Director
Awards
Tupper Classic Attorney, Bryant Mock Trial Invitational 2022- 18 Ranks
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Attorney, Michigan State University Invitational-19 Ranks
2023 All-Regional Attorney, 19 Ranks
Outstanding Attorney: 17 Ranks — Binghamton’s Bearcat Invitational, 2023
Personal Bio
Hometown: Boise, ID
Major/Minor: Applied Math and Computer Science double major
Other Campus Activities: Sig Ep, Frisbee
In Blaine’s perspective, movies don’t need to be that deep. Sometimes Blaine just wanna laugh or see stuff go boom (very valid).
Melanie Laureano
Sophomore
Mock Trial Leadership Position: Secretary
Hometown: Yonkers, New York
Major: Public Health and Political Science majors with a minor in Journalism
Other Campus Activities: Outing club and Campus times.
Melanie doesn’t like chewing gum. That’s a real surprise!
Garrett Briggs
Senior
Awards
2022 All-Regional Attorney, 19 Ranks
Outstanding Attorney, Drexel Mock Trial Invitational 2021 – 17 Ranks
Outstanding Attorney, Binghamton Mock Trial Invitational 2022 – 19 Ranks
Outstanding Witness, Drexel’s Annual Dragon Invitational 2023- 17 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Brenham, Texas
Major: Political Science and Philosophy
Other Campus Activities: Cards Club, SA Government
Garrett is an avid fan of penguins, especially Marley the Penguin, but he was not in the mood for a photo that day. He likes the way that penguins go “agjghhhhhh agghhjnj aghhh” as their socializing sound. In addition, he has a large collection of turtles in his room on and off campus, which is cool, but not related to penguins at all.
Alonso Ponce
Take 5
Awards
2023 All-Regional Witness, 19 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Matamoros, Mexico
Major: Environmental Science
Other Campus Activities: DEI Chair of Chi Phi, Birding Club
One of Alonso’s hobbies include keeping rare species of succulents and cacti! That’s pretty dope!
Nathan Cho
Sophomore
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Majors/Minor: Psychology Major and Legal Studies Minor
Other Campus Activities: Korean Student Union
Nathan wants people to know that he knows how to BEATBOX!
Clarice Speight McKee
Senior
Awards
Outstanding Attorney: 17 ranks — Cornell’s Big Red Invitational Classic, 2023
Outstanding Attorney: 20 ranks — Binghamton’s Bearcat Invitational, 2023
Outstanding Attorney: 16 ranks — Bryant’s Tupper Classic, 2022
Outstanding Attorney: 18 ranks — UC Boulder’s Invitational, 2021
Personal Bio
Hometown: North Carolina
Majors: Political Science and History and a Minor in Chinese
Other Campus Activities: dying slowly <3
Clarice is vaccinated against the Black Plague! Stay safe out there folks.
Giovanni Monteiro-Do Canto
Junior
Hometown: Boston, MA
Major: Political Science
Other Campus Activities: CPE, PASA, BSU, Students for Justice in Palestine
Gio is the only Cape Verdean in his year and he has been growing out my hair for a year and two months. Just look and appreciate them curls!
Zoe Jones
First Year
Awards
Outstanding Witness: 20 ranks — Geneseo Joust, 2023
Personal Bio
Hometown: Central New Jersey
Majors in Political Science & Economics
Other Campus Activities: Tuba player for UR’s Symphony Orchestra and Eastman’s Tuba Mirum
Zoe collects pins and buttons. Her collection has surpassed 120!!
Zak Brown
Junior
Hometown: Newark, New Jersey
Major/Minor: Major in BCS and Psych and Minor in Creative Writing
Other Campus Activities: RHA, Chess Club, Campus Times
Zak can’t drink coffee because it makes her sleepy. But, she sometimes drinks it anyways. Why? It’s all for the taste.
Kanishk Shanmugam
Sophomore
Awards
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Witness, Michigan State University Invitational-18 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Major: Psychology
Other Campus Activities: Wind Symphony/Brass Orchestra, ARC Analyst
Kanishk’s idea of a friend is someone who will put on Joker makeup and listen to Playboy Carti with him. No worries, Kanishk we will make sure you find your soul mate here in Mock trial!
Phyllis Ong
Junior
Mock Trial Leadership Position: Business Manager
Hometown: Penang, Malaysia
Major: Chemical Engineering with a minor in Environmental Engineering
Other Campus Activities: Undergrad Research (kinda exclusive with mock)
Phyllis had never ever missed a flight at any point in her life until August because she couldn’t check into her flight. When she re-booked her ticket, she made it all the way to Philadelphia but got stuck there because her connecting flight to Rochester got canceled. We wish her the best of luck in her future flights!
Sarah Knight
Senior
Mock Trial Leadership Position: Director of Education
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Majors/Minor: Political Science and English: Language Media and Communications Majors and Digital Media Studies Minor
Other Campus Activities: WRUR, Videographer for UR’s Football team
Sarah got punched by a kangaroo. Ouch!
Luis Ixcamperarij
Sophomore
Mock Trial Leadership Position: External Tournament Director
Personal Bio
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Major: Political Science
Other Campus Activities: WRUR, Campus Times
Luis has seen 3/5 of his Top Artists in person!
Annette Hopkins (N-et)
Senior
Awards
Outstanding Attorney: 20 ranks — Cornell’s Big Red Invitational Classic, 2023
Outstanding Attorney: 17 ranks– Bryant University’s Tupper Classic, 2023
Personal Bio
Hometown: Great Neck, New York
Majors: Bioethics and Brain & Cognitive Sciences
Other Campus Activities: ACJC and Cards Club
When she was a kid, Annette met Esteban from the Suite Life of Zack and Cody at an audition, something that she calls the flex of her life. In addition, she loves sharks and capybaras, and allegedly pelicans.
Chloë Humphrey
Junior
Awards
Red Cedar Classic Invitational Attorney, Michigan State University Invitational-17 Ranks
Personal Bio
Hometown: Fairport, NY
Major/Minor: International Relations and Health Policy Majors, Legal Studies Minor
Other Campus Activities: Chi Omega and UR FOOT
Chloë has lived in Kyrgyzstan during her gap year!
Emma Maconaughey
Sophomore
Personal Bio
Hometown: Charleston, West Virginia
Majors: Politics, Philosophy, & Economics (PPE), and Japanese
Other Campus Activities: JSA, URCO
Emma has a habit of copying other people’s habits, but nonetheless, she loves food!
Krystal Ni
Junior
Awards:
Outstanding Witness: 15 Ranks — Binghamton’s Bearcat Invitational, 2022
Personal Bio
Hometown: Rochester, New York
Major/Minor: Major in Biochemistry and Minors in Political Science & Creative Writing
Other Campus Activities: MAPS & Model UN
Krystal can sing “Sofia the first” in a toad voice! Epic
Owen Christensen
Junior
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Major/Minor: Major in Political Science and Minors in Philosophy and Legal Studies
Other Campus Activities: Exclusive relationship with Mock Trial ( he also goes to his classes)
Owen made it into Politico, an American, German-owned political journalism newspaper company!!
Helena Shi
Sophomore
Hometown: Beijing, China
Major: PPE (Politics, Philosophy, & Economics)
Other Campus Activities: UR Chamber Orchestra
Helena loves long hair dachshunds!!!
Sarah Kideckel
First Year
Personal Bio
Hometown: Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania
Major: Psychology
Other Campus Activities: Club Tennis and Pep Band
Sarah loves going to Broadway shows!
Monica Resendez
Sophomore
Hometown: El Paso, Texas
Major/Minor: Psychology and Legal studies with a minor in business
Other Campus Activities: Debate union
Monica has met Kendall and James of the famous band Big Time Rush 😌🕺🏼 That’s amazing!! Let us see the pictures~