Special Events
Empire students often use the term ‘experience’ to describe their time at Empire, and with good reason: our programs are so much more than just four rounds of mock trial. They feature unique events that provide an opportunity for students to connect with their peers from across the globe, immerse themselves in a vibrant city, and celebrate their mock trial achievements.
Each Empire competition starts with an optional city-themed event (i.e. an Experience Event), formally kicks-off with an Opening Ceremony, and concludes a Closing Ceremony.
Keep reading to find out how our Special Events help create the Empire experience.
Opening Ceremony & Empire Exchange
After months of preparation, this is the moment that you’ve been waiting for: the start of your Empire experience! To reflect the magnitude of the moment, Empire proudly presents its signature Opening Ceremony, featuring fun music, an exciting video, a National Anthem presentation, case specific speakers, the Empire Exchange, the Round 1 Challenge Order and dinner.
Mid-Ceremony is the Empire Exchange, which gives students approximately one hour to meet one another and exchange mementos from their respective part of the country and world. Expect students to bring home fun tokens, like a Tennessee moon pie, New Orleans Mardi Gras beads or a flag lapel pin (to name just a few items that have been exchanged in the past). Through the Exchange, students learn to view their fellow students as friends and classmates, rather than competitors. The seeds of future friendships are often planted at the Exchange and grow throughout the competition weekend.
With one event, Empire’s Opening Ceremony introduces students to the organization’s values, provides important context on their case, pumps them up for the competition, makes them feel valued, and lets them know an old adage that we repeat year after year:
You can be good at mock trial, and also good to people.
Empire Experience Events
Experience events give students the chance to connect outside of the courtroom for a memorable day or night out.
From attending a baseball game at Camden Yards to visiting an aquarium in Atlanta, there is nothing like an Empire Experience event.
For the second year in a row, we are offering an Architecture Boat Tour of Chicago, where students can see Chicago’s iconic skyline as well as Lake Michigan right from the Chicago River.
We’ll see you on the water!
Closing Ceremony
After two long days of mock trial, you wake up on Monday morning ready for the Closing Ceremony. You saw Empire’s trophies at the Opening Ceremony–the iconic Statue of Liberty affixed to a wooden base, complete with an Empire logo. You would love for your team to take one home, but you recognize that trophies aren’t the sole indicator of a ‘successful’ Empire experience (as we will certainly remind you).
The Closing Ceremony is a celebration of you: your team, your hard work and your Empire experience. Whether you leave with a trophy or not, you should leave proud of the work you put in in order to participate. We will certainly leave proud of you.
Check out more photos of all our Special Events by clicking through the gallery below!
