Brianna Diaz of Joliet helps Lewis University Mediation Team win Peacemaker Championship tournament

2015 May 13

The Lewis University Mediation Team recently won the Peacekeeper Championship Tournament at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. They placed first in Advocacy/Client category and clinched second place in the Mediation category. The Lewis University team won two of the four team awards and seven individual awards against 12 teams from six other colleges and universities. Joliet resident Brianna Diaz is a member of the team.

Lewis took first place in advocacy, securing the Advocacy-Client Championship. The team was comprised of Captain Brianna Diaz, Ying Gao and Marcus Newell. The team was runner-up in mediation, coming in second to University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Captain Shannon Lukowski, along with Dustin Murray and Brian Pustz, led the team.

In individual accomplishments, Brianna Diaz took first place as Outstanding Mediator. Lewis had three of the top six Outstanding Advocacy-Client Award teams including Brianna Diaz and Marcus Newell; Marcus Newell and Ying Gao; and Shannon Lukowski and Dustin Murray.

Coaching at this competition were Head Coach Dr. James Houlihan, professor of Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies and alumnus Cary Hansing.

"Our team accomplished our goals for the spirited and tough competition, which was to test the veterans and to also introduce new players," Houlihan said. The six students representing Lewis University included two new players--Dustin Murray and Marcus Newell. These two with the four veterans are returning to next year's team.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,700 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.