WINONA LAKE — The International Academy of Dispute Resolution selected Grace College to host the 2024 International Intercollegiate Mediation Tournament (IIMT) on Nov. 7-9.
Forty-five students from eight colleges worldwide participated in the tournament, as well as nearly 30 judges who serve in various areas of the law and other related professions, according to a news release from Grace College.
“Hosting the IIMT was a fantastic experience,” said Bianca Jimenez-Ortiz, Grace’s student body president and mediation team member. “It was not only exciting to compete but also to welcome schools from across the nation — some visiting the Midwest for the first time. Sharing our history and faith-integrated approach to education sparked interest, fostered meaningful connections and deepened my own appreciation for our college.”
Grace College had six students participate in the tournament: Da Zhane Jones, Jodie Harris, Shelby Huiner, Charity Lundgren, Bianca Jimenez-Ortiz and Isaiah Bryant. Jimenez-Ortiz was awarded first place in the individual mediator category. Lundgren, Jimenez-Ortiz and Bryant were awarded third place in the team mediator category.
“I've always felt that the mediation team is a ‘hidden gem’ of Grace's extracurricular lineup,” said Bryant. “Being on the team has been an undeniable highlight of my time at Grace, and being able to host a tournament on our turf was a cool experience. The opportunity to compete against students from all across the world was amazing. I've learned a lot from people with other perspectives.”
Dr. Thomas Pycraft, assistant professor of finance at Grace, and Dr. Ken Frank, director and professor of conflict resolution and legal studies at Brenau University in Georgia, led the conference portion of the IIMT, sharing valuable insights into mediation from their professional experience.
Grace’s mediation team is led by Dr. Mark Norris, professor of European and world history at Grace, and focuses on giving its members lifelong peaceful conflict resolution skills. The team’s motto follows the words of Jesus: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Matt. 5:9). The team offers a mediation camp for high school students interested in law or debate.
For more information about mediation, go to www.grace.edu/what-is-mediation/. To learn more about the pre-law minor at Grace, visit www.grace.edu/programs/pre-law-minor/.