Findlay High School mock trial adviser Noel Alden receives award from OCLRE Executive Director Kate Strickland.

Danville High School mock trial adviser Noel Alden receives award from OCLRE Executive Director Kate Strickland.

The Ohio Center for Law-Related Education (OCLRE) recently presented its highest honors at the 29th annual Law & Citizenship Conference at the Thomas J. Moyer Ohio Judicial Center in Columbus.

Noel Alden, a mock and moot trial adviser for Danville High School’s teams, was awarded the Eiler Award for Mock Trial Coaching Excellence. Alden was nominated by student Calvin Huh.

In his nomination Calvin stated: “As both a full-time attorney and full-time dairy farmer, Mr. Alden has sacrificed nearly all of his free time coaching us. Mr. Alden has helped us all grow through his blunt honesty.”

“[He] does not sugarcoat things, but he also doesn’t dismiss ideas. He provides direct, constructive criticism…but [lets] us figure out how to fix things. Most importantly, Mr. Alden has tried to instill in us a respect for all people,” Huh wrote.

The organization also awarded its Founders’ award to Mark Dickman, who teaches AP government and politics, college prep government, and college prep economics at Findlay High School.

In addition to his teaching duties, Dickman serves as mayor of his hometown of Middle Point, Ohio, where he has gained insight into the day-to-day operations of local government.

The Founders’ award recipient devotes time to develop programs that engage students in learning the value of the rule of law, democracy, and civic responsibility.

Past recipients included educators and members of Ohio’s legal community, including former Chief Justice Thomas J. Moyer.

Robin Lashley, a teacher at Berea-Midpark Middle School in Middleburg Heights, was awarded the new Outstanding Civics Educator award to recognize teachers who have gone above and beyond in their drive for authentic civic education and student achievement.

Lashley implemented the “We the People” program three years ago. It’s a civics curriculum that immerses students in the study of the U.S. Constitution.

OCLRE is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization whose mission is to improve society by developing citizens empowered with an understanding of our democratic system. OCLRE is sponsored by the Ohio Supreme Court, Ohio Attorney General, Ohio State Bar Association and American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio Foundation.

OCLRE programs are funded in part by a grant from the Ohio State Bar Foundation. For more information, visit www.oclre.org.