Nominations are due March 15th and are to include the individual's name; firm if applicable; address & other contact information; the award for which they are being nominated and contact information of the nominators; a summary of their characteristics, experiences, and service that qualifies them for the award; and support letters from others may be included. The nomination packets should be sent to The Arizona Foundation for Legal Services & Education, ATTN: Kevin S. Ruegg, 4201 N. 24th Street, Suite 210, Phoenix, AZ 85016 or fax to (602)271.4930.

Download the JJR Nomination Flyer

2008 Winners

George Colebrook
Landmark Middle School
Glendale, AZ

Mr. Colebrook brings social studies to life in the classroom. Students are engaged in the reenactment of historical events, taking a side in a debate or defending a group they may represent in a history lesson. He encourages students to understand the past and connect it to the present or future. He reinforces citizenship and the impact that an individual can have. He pushes students to gather data, to draw conclusions and synthesize the information so that each can take a stance and make a difference. Mr. Colebrook hosted the District showcase for Project Citizen and involved the parents and community in the process. Mr. Colebrook also has worked with the Juvenile Probation Department to hear real cases

Lisa Flores
Cactus Middle School
Casa Grande, AZ

Lisa has been instrumental in providing LRE for students for the last five years. Her initial involvement was allowing the Safe Schools Probation Officer’s to teach in her Social Studies class. She took an active approach by co-teaching with the probation officers. Her involvement did not stop in her classroom, she also volunteered to coach the Cactus Middle School Mock Trial team in the 2005 through 2006. In her first year of competing in the Annual Pinal County Mock Trial competition, her Cactus Middle School teams placed first, and fueled her vision to advocate for Mock Trial to become an elective class at Cactus Middle School. The following year she successfully convinced the school board and principal to add Mock Trial to the list of elective classes.

John Cosden
Xavier High School
Phoenix, AZ

Mr. Cosden has been involved in teaching Mock Trial for over 5 years and has made sure others have an opportunity to experience this educational program. Several years ago he implemented the Mock Trial Scrimmage, the month before the Regional Tournament to provide a “practice arena� for other teams. He not only hosted the event but coached 4 teams of his own. Mr. Cosden is always mentoring other teachers in the valley because he believe in the program and wants to see it grow.

Patrick McAndrew
University High School

Mr. McAndrew teaches American Government and Comparative Politics AP classes. For approximately 14 years he has served as a coach for University High School’s mock trial teams. A highlight for many students is the yearly mock election. Each government class forms its own political party, runs a slate of officers, writes position statements and hold a school-wide debate.
Pat passed away last December. His students benefited from his passion for political science and the law as he taught them to understand the political and philosophical differences of cultures around the world.

2007 Winners

Jim Maner - Capps Middle School - Heber
Mr. Maner has been involved with Project Citizen and We the People for several years. His students always do well at district and state showcases. Last year, Jim's Project Citizen Class took on vandalism and scored the highest points at the state showcase and went onto Nationals.

Jim Norman - Hamilton High School - Chandler
Mr. Norman was nominated by the 2006-2007 "We the People" students. Jim is a retired lawyer who gives willingly of his free time to come in and give valuable advice and help to the "We the People" students. He has conducted numerous lectures during school hours, as well as volunteered any free time he has had to individually mentor any of the small groups. During the week before the competition, the students have many hours in Jim's own house studying and preparing for the big day.

Past Winners

2006
John Nitka - Palo Verde Magnet High School - Tucson
Rich Curtin - Palo Verde Middle School - Phoenix

2005
Cheri Bludau- Tucson Unified School District - Tucson
Duane Phifer - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix
John Halverson - Desert Sands Middle School - Phoenix

2004
Charlene Roll - South Mountain High School - Phoenix
Lisa Adams - Corona del Sol High School - Tempe
Lori Rodriguez - East Globe School - Globe
Phyllis Wolfskill/Cindy Pickett - Sinagua High School - Flagstaff

2003
Patricia Downing, Crane Middle School, Yuma
Abby Dupke, Dobson High School, Mesa
Dave Franquero, Globe High School, Globe
Tim Smith, Corona del Sol High School, Tempe

2002
Cathy Currier, Sahuaro High School (Tucson)
Michael Spears, Hamilton High School (Chandler)

2001
Darla Johnson, Bradshaw Mountain High School
Arlie Hunt Anderson Junior High School, Chandler
Robin Andre, Shelly Baker and Georgia Davidson Mile High Middle School, Yavapai County

2000
Tammy Waller - Mountain Ridge High School, Glendale

1999
Julie McCall - Madison #1 Middle School, Phoenix
Nancy Haas - ASU West, Phoenix
Kathy Williams - Dobson High School, Mesa
Sarah Cromer - South Beaver Elementary, Flagstaff

1998
Jody Arnold - Liberty Elementary School, Buckeye
Judy Cox - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Marilyn Easton - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge School District, Lakeside
Janet Thor - Centennial Middle School, Phoenix

1997
Katheryn Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Betsyann Wilson - Thornydale Elementary School, Tucson

1996
Connie R. Boulton - Wilson Primary School, Phoenix

1995
William Graham - Tempe High School, Tempe
W. Dorrean Walker - Prescott High School, Prescott

1994
Mildred (dede) Havens - Buena High School, Sierra Vista
Mary Jo Hilpert - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Mary Platt - St John’s High School, St. Johns
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales

1993
Norma Jean Coulter - Madison #1 School, Phoenix
Paula Olson - Esperanza School, Tucson

1992
Darlene Speaker - Creighton Middle School, Phoenix
Lorene Ely - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Ron Trent - Amphitheater High School, Tucson
Elnora Johnson - Blue Ridge Junior High School, Lakeside

1991
Tom Foster - Mountain View High School, Mesa
Kathy Hedges - Deer Valley High School, Phoenix
Winifred McAter - Flowing Wells High School, Tucson
George Thomson - Nogales High School, Nogales

1990
Richard C. Brown - South Mountain High School, Phoenix
Augie Zito - Paradise Valley High School, Phoenix
Towne Bishop - Rincon High School, Tucson
John Yanez - Miami High School, Miami