MIDDLETOWN, Calif. – After winning the third annual Lake County Mock Trial Competition last month, Middletown High School Mock Trial Team can now look forward to attending the state competition in Southern California, thanks to the donation from a local businessman.

The team, which will head to Riverside March 20 through 22 for the state competition, has received $1,000 from Dan Nelson, vice president of Hoberg's Resort and Spa on Cobb Mountain.

Nelson presented a check to Middletown High School teacher Danielle Bruns, who coaches the team, and her students at Wednesday night’s Middletown Unified School District Board meeting.

“I’m thrilled to reward all the hard work these students put into developing and executing their mock trial prosecution and defense,” said Nelson. “It’s gratifying that I’m personally able to help them represent Lake County at the state competition in Riverside.”  

Middletown High School has won the mock trial competition three years running.

“Dan’s donation really helps the team,” said Bruns. “Without donations like Dan’s, the team wouldn’t be able to get to the state competition in Riverside where they get to argue the mock trial case against the best teams in the State of California and represent Lake County.”

Nelson personally made the donation and plans to further help educational programs in Lake County in the future.

He also will be contributing to the community through partial proceeds of 2015 and 2016 Cobb Mountain Concert Series at the Hoberg’s Resort and Spa amphitheater.