May I Be Heard? Vol. 1 ft. Makenna Kellogg
The first installment of new Instagram Live interview series “May I be Heard?” hosted by Oscar Samios.
In 2011, Empire New York had an unusually young participant.
At 8 years old, Makenna Kellogg was at least 6 years younger than even the youngest Empire competitors. So, what was she doing in a federal courthouse in Brooklyn in the middle of the fall semester?
Makenna’s dad, Matt Kellogg, has been the coach of the West Linn mock trial team in Oregon for years. When West Linn would compete at Empire, he would bring his daughter, Makenna, along for the experience.
Now, ten years later, Makenna helped carry West Linn to the Championship Round of Empire Atlanta: The (Virtual) Southern Showdown. And, in the end, they won.
Competing as a witness at Empire New York.
Having competed at Empire competitions in person, and having watched so many of them growing up, Makenna worried that Empire Online would alter the dynamic of her team. Instead, she was pleasantly surprised.
“Our team has really bonded this year, even online,” said Makenna. “We were still able to talk to each other during the trial, like on WhatsApp. We were definitely making jokes and having fun.”
Overall, Makenna says that Empire Online brought her team closer together. Without having to worry about what a scoring judge might think about a team communicating so much, West Linn really embraced the virtual atmosphere. They felt even more connected than if they had been physically together, limited by the layout of a courtroom.
West Linn taking the 2021 Empire Atlanta crown.
“We were really able to support each other. We congratulated each other and said ‘good job’ every time someone sat down after finishing their part. It was really nice.”
After ten years of watching and competing in Empire competitions, both in person and online, Makenna would recommend Empire now more than ever.
“There is so much care and attention to detail that goes into every aspect of each competition,” she said. “All the teams have that competitive spirit, and everyone is really good, but there is a mutual level of respect. It just feels different.”
Want to know more about Makenna’s experience with Empire Online? Watch her full interview here.
Ready for your own Empire Experience? Applications are OPEN for the 2021 Cyberspace Season this Fall. To learn more and how to apply, click here.