KK
Kayla King
  • Criminal/Social Justice
  • Class of 2015
  • Chicago, IL

Kayla King of Chicago helps Lewis Mediation Team maintain top international ranking

2014 Dec 9

For the second consecutive year since the Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament went international two years ago, Lewis University's team finished in the top five, earning fifth place. In eight years of competition in mediation, Lewis University has never failed to finish in the top 10.

This year's tournament consisted of the 40 top ranked teams with approximately 140 individual competitors from 22 universities and colleges. The International Mediation Championships were hosted by Brenau University in Gainsville, Ga. Three teams qualified for the tournament.

Chicago resident Kayla King is a member of one of the Mediation Teams that competed.

Lewis University maintained its top five ranking in Advocacy with the team consisting of Bridgette Ferreira, Shannon Lukowski and Kayla King. The team of Olivia Estrada, Lexi Austring and Lane Snyder finished in 15th in Advocacy, and the third team of Brianna Diaz, Ying Gao and Brian Pustz finished 33rd.

In Mediation team standings, the team of Ferriera, Lukowski and King finished 12th and the Estrada, Austring and Synder team finished 20th, with the team of Diaz, Gao and Pustz in 28th. In individual awards, Lewis University had five All-Americans, three in Mediation and two in Advocacy. King finished second, Ferreira in fourth and Diaz 12th in Mediation. In Advocacy, Ferreira and King finished fourth, with Estrada and Austring finishing 14th. Lukowski, while not earning All-American this year, did qualify to play in the championship round of the final four in Mediation.

While the championship concluded the competition under the International Academy of Dispute (INADR) Undergraduate auspices, the Lewis University Mediation Team's talents are in demand in other arenas. Lewis University has received a bid for one team to compete in the International Law School Championship competition to be held at Drake Law School in Des Moines, Iowa in March 2015. Teams from the schools with the top undergraduate programs are invited to compete with the law schools. This will be the second time Lewis University has competed in the International Law School Championship. In previous years Lewis University has also competed against law schools in England and Scotland, finishing sixth and fifth respectfully.

Also, the Lewis University Mediation Team will present in the "Violent Times" program in the spring semester at Lewis University. The plan is to show the value of mediation in dealing and coping with violence and violent situations.

Angela Henderson, attorney at Henderson Law and Mediation Center in Joliet and Joseph Volin, alumnus and assistant director of Lewis Alumni Relations, coach the team. Contact Head Coach Dr. James Houlihan, professor of Justice, Law, and Public Safety Studies, at (815) 836-5313 or houlihja@lewisu.edu to learn more about the academic teams at Lewis University.

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.