UF Law students Wilbert Vancol, Olga Butkevich, Christa Diaz and David Hughes (supported by alternate Katie Watt) will argue before a panel of four federal district court judges in the 24th Annual Zimmerman Kiser Sutcliffe Moot Court Final Four Competition that will take place this Friday. This year’s panel will be comprised of four distinguished federal judges: The Honorable Robert Hinkle, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Florida (Tallahassee); The Honorable William Terrell Hodges, Senior U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Florida (Ocala); The Honorable Steven D. Merryday, U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Florida (Tampa); and The Honorable John H. Moore II, Senior U.S. District Judge, Middle District of Florida (Jacksonville).
After intense preparation and participation in this summer’s Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Intramural competition, the final four competitors and alternate, along with 12 other exceptional competitors, became the newest members of the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Team.
The Final Four competitors will showcase their oral argument skills this Friday, Sept. 25, at 10 a.m. in the Chesterfield Smith Ceremonial Classroom (Room 180). All law students, faculty, and staff are invited to attend. It is expected to be a full house, so please plan to arrive early. Cell phones must be turned off or in silent mode. Come out to watch these outstanding oralists argue Fourth Amendment search and seizure issues, as well as Sixth Amendment jury impartiality issues.
Competitor Biographies
Christa M. Diaz- Petitioner
Christa Diaz was born and raised in Stuart, Fla. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in international studies and a minor in Spanish. During her undergraduate career, Diaz was selected as part of the university’s student undergraduate research fellowship to travel to Ecuador to research and interview national politicians and political candidates regarding the country’s economic relations with the United States. At the Levin College of Law, she is an ambassador for the Introduction to Law School and the Profession and an extern with the criminal division of the Eighth Judicial Circuit in Gainesville. Upon graduation, she would like to go into civil litigation and eventually appellate practice. Diaz would like to thank her family and friends for all of their help and support. “I am so honored to argue before this panel of prestigious judges and to be part of such an amazing group of competitors. I would like to thank the Levin College of Law and the Justice Thornal Campbell Moot Court Board for giving me this opportunity.”
Wilbert Vancol - Petitioner
Wilbert Vancol was born in Chicago, Ill. but shortly after moved to Haiti where he was raised until he returned to the United States at age six. Vancol is a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in political science. As an undergraduate, Vancol was an active member, and president, of the University of Florida speech and debate team. Vancol began law school in 2008 at Florida A&M College of Law in Orlando, Fla. During his year at FAMU, he was a member of the moot court team and was awarded best oral advocate at the E. Earle Zehmer Workers’ Compensation Competition. Upon graduation, Vancol would like to pursue a career in litigation. “As a transfer student, I am honored by my selection to the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court team and overwhelmed by the privilege of being named a Final Four participant. Arguing in front of such esteemed panel is an experience that I will never forget. I would like to thank the University of Florida Levin College of Law for providing me with this opportunity.”
David Hughes – Respondent
David Hughes was born in Dade City, Fla. While at Haverford College, David was selected to present his honors thesis to the faculty of history. After graduation, David joined Teach for America, the nationally recognized Americorps program that places high-achieving college graduates as teachers in public schools in underprivileged rural and urban communities in an effort to eliminate the achievement gap in public education. During his time with Teach for America, David taught reading, grammar, and mathematics at Roma Intermediate School in Roma, Texas, a small border town on the Rio Grande with the highest childhood poverty rates in the United States. Following Teach for America, David taught business English in Prague, Czech Republic and ESOL reading and grammar to recent immigrants at Thomas E. Weightman Middle School in Wesley Chapel, Fla. During summer 2009, David completed an externship with the Hon. Mark Moseley, a former Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board member, and worked with Superlawyer A.R. “Chip” Mander, a board certified criminal and civil trial attorney. As a student at the Levin College of Law, David is a member of the University of Florida’s Journal of Law & Public Policy and has received recognition on the dean’s list. Upon graduation, David would like to pursue a career in litigation and appellate work.
Olga Butkevich - Respondent
Olga Butkevich was born in Kiev, Ukraine and moved to the United States at a young age where she was raised in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. She completed her undergraduate degree in 2006 with a major in telecommunications and a minor in business administration at the University of Florida. During summer 2009, Butkevich completed an internship with the staff attorney’s legal department office and a judicial internship at the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court in Tampa, Fla. Now in her second year at the Levin College of Law, Butkevich is interested in pursuing a career in corporate and international law. “I am unbelievably grateful to have the opportunity to argue in front of this notable panel of federal judges. I would like to thank my family and friends for their remarkable support, the members of the Justice Campbell Thornal Moot Court Board and the University of Florida Levin College of Law for this incredible prospect.”
Mary Katherine Watt - Alternate
Mary Katherine Watt was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. She graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology with high honors with a major in building construction and a minor in pre-law. As a student at UF Law, Mary Katherine is a member of the student recruitment team and served as an ambassador for the incoming 1Ls. This summer, Mary Katherine worked as a summer associate for Gray-Robinson in their Orlando offices. She hopes to use her undergraduate degree after law school by practicing in construction litigation. Mary Katherine would like to thank her friends and family for their encouragement, support, and guidance.
