The TBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) Board held its winter meeting in Cookeville. President Alex McVeagh presented Stars of the Quarter to Franklin attorney Sean Aiello for his role as immediate past president, Chattanooga attorney Weslen Lakins for his role as East Tennessee CLE coordinator, and Nashville attorney Alix Rogers for her role as Middle Tennessee governor. In addition, McVeagh expressed appreciation for all board members and their outstanding effort in their roles. The board also welcomed the Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) Class of 2026 to the meeting. This was the first in-person meeting for the class, which is led by DLI Co-Chairs Morgan Hanna and John Murphy. On Saturday, in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., YLD Board members and DLI students assisted with Mock Trial 101, a free program that brought together 45 high school students and coaches from Cookeville High School, Warren County High School, Seymour High School, RePublic High School, Antioch Middle School and Paideia Academy to increase awareness and interest in the YLD's high school mock trial program. Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton of Chattanooga was selected as the YLD Board's disco gavel recipient for his enthusiastic participation in the inaugural program. Special thanks to YLD District Representatives Amanda Howard and Amber Vargas and YLD Fellow and past president Rachel Moses for their support of the program as well. The service program fulfilled one of the TBA's goals of providing civics education and promoting the practice of law in rural areas of the state.

Left: Alex McVeagh (left) and Alix Rogers
Right: Alex McVeagh (left) and Sean Aiello

TBA YLD Board Meeting

Left: Alex McVeagh (standing) addresses members of the TBA YLD Board and DLI Class of 2026
Right: Alex McVeagh (left) presents disco gavel to Chancellor Jeffrey Atherton

DLI Class of 2026
Back row (left to right): Morgan Hanna (co-chair), Ronal Bueso, Sara Ali-Amghaiab, Cecilee Tinajero, Dimend Little, Marilyn Harrison-Bates, Carole, Rizkallah and John Murphy (co-chair)
Front row (left to right): Sierra Sidoti, Carlee Sullins, Naimad Delgado, Abigail James and Charlie Pritchett

TBA YLD members address the students at Mock Trial 101. Panel participants (left to right): Bridget Pyman, John Jolley, Ashley Tipton, Faith Watson, Alex McVeagh, Kristen Walker, Darius Walker Jr. and Zachary Walden

Left: Chancellor Atherton addresses students participating in Mock Trial 101