MTSU Mondays: Students test skills at mock trial, impress with Mech-Tech projects

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Students test skills at ‘transformative’ mock trial

Middle Tennessee State University forensic science majors met at the intersection of justice and science in the courtroom of Circuit Court Judge Barry Tidwell recently for the culmination of a semester-long project.

Two dozen students in the forensic senior seminar participated in a mock trial program organized by Tidwell and MTSU adjunct instructor Andrea King, who is also a forensic scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

“One of the big things a forensic scientist has to do is testify in court,” explained Frank Bailey, MTSU professor and director of MTSU’s Forensic Science program offered through the Department of Biology within the College of Basic and Applied Sciences. “You must be believable and confident on the stand.”

Tidwell, whose 16th Judicial District covers Rutherford and Cannon counties, presided over the mock trial, which took place in mid-November at the Rutherford County Judicial Center in Murfreesboro. Rutherford County Assistant District Attorney Allyson Abbott and public defender Sean Williams cross-examined students based on prefabricated scenarios they created as part of coursework.

In the weeks leading up to the mock trial, students in the class crafted their own cases and professional “characters,” then wrote up reports based on the scenarios, King explained.

“The big picture is, you’re telling the court the science you performed. Overall, what they learn is comparison science vs. hard science,” King said. “Testifying with a judge and defense in a court proceeding, and being able to tell them what you do, gives them a leg up.”

Following each student’s participation, Tidwell offered constructive critiques on their performances.

“I place a high value on the students getting the experience of being in court, being placed under oath, and answering questions from attorneys based on their reports and investigative scenarios,” Tidwell said. “I believe it is important for them to be able to see and feel what it is like to have their work subjected to questioning and review by the lawyers and the court as if it was a real case.”

During the mock trial, Jaylon Jefferson of Memphis took the stand as a fingerprint analyst and called the experience “transformative.” At first, he admitted he was a little nervous.

“Once I got into the flow of explaining the evidence … I was able to stay focused on my role,” said Jefferson, who plans to be a forensic nurse. “This experience bridged the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.”

Katherine Smeltz of Brentwood took her experience as a pharmacy tech to craft a case involving a nurse who poisoned a patient with a deliberate overdose of medication.

“Everything I have learned in chemistry, biology and criminal justice over these few years all had pieces that played into this mock trial,” said Smeltz, who hopes to work for the FBI. “So it was beneficial for my future, as I will have to testify again, and it also made me fully connect all of my classes to what it means to be a forensic scientist.”

The program was started in 2010 by the late Laura Cole, an adjunct instructor and forensic scientist who passed away in 2023. Her legacy is kept alive with an annual award named in her honor, given to the student with the best mock trial performance. This year, senior Camile Phillips won the award.

MTSU engineering students impress with Mech-Tech expo projects

Tech-savvy Middle Tennessee State University Engineering Technology and Mechatronics Engineering students exhibited their one- and two-semester capstone projects during the fall Mech-Tech expo recently in the Miller Education Center on Bell Street.

Creations included an oil filter changing robot, automated golf ball retriever, portable network speaker system, meat packager and sealer project featuring a FANUC-Cobit Collaborative Robot arm and more were among the 20-plus judged devices.

Wrapping up the spring and fall semesters, Mech-Tech showcases team and individual efforts before commencement ceremonies are held.

Students, faculty and department Chair Ken Currie await hosting future Mech-Techs in the new Applied Engineering Building, scheduled to open by the fall 2025 semester on the east side of campus next to the MTSU School of Concrete and Construction Building.

“I like the effort out of most of these projects,” Currie said. “They used equipment we’d already purchased for the new building, and they made good use of it.”

Friends since sixth grade in McMinnville, Kaleb Smith and Emilio Sanches were part of a five-member “Meat Men: Thermoseal Meat Packager” team, whose objective was to properly seal and prepare a plastic tray containing meat to be sold to a customer while minimizing interaction and increasing sanitation.

Smith and Sanches said they are considering joining forces after graduation, possibly pursuing being mechatronics instructors at Motlow State Community College’s McMinnville campus.

Jeff Buck, co-president with La Vergne-based industry partner Automation Nth, said he “enjoyed chatting with students. The projects I saw were great, and there are some impressive students.”

Coin Sorters earned first place in the Mechatronics Engineering category. Team members included Joshua Holm, Dylan Pate, Luke Flatt, Caleb Berman and Nathan Deal. Hunter McMath, an electro-mechanical engineering technology student, was awarded first place in the Engineering Technology division.

MTSU Mondays content is provided by submissions from MTSU News and Media Relations.

This article originally appeared on Murfreesboro Daily News Journal: Students test skills at mock trial, impress with Mech-Tech projects

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