Schools in the Court
On December 13, 2015, Kason Donato, a loving young father and fiance, was killed by a driver who had been drinking alcohol. After the driver was convicted, Kason’s mother courageously stood up in front of the Court and asked the Judge to help her son’s legacy live on. She asked the Judge to tell Kason’s story to students in the hopes that those young people would never make the same mistake as the driver that killed her son. Kason Donato’s legacy lives on through the lives his story will touch and the people who will be impacted as they hear his story.
The Honorable Vincent A. Mulieri/Kason Donato Annual Student Spotlight Award is given to students who keep Kason’s legacy live by encouraging other students to make better choices for a better tomorrow. This annual award is presented in conjunction with the Schools in the Court program. Your tax-deductible donation will help provide the winning student(s) with a cash award and a shadowing experience to go behind the scenes of the courtroom.
Contact
For questions about this program, please contact:
Eve Case
AACPS Social Studies Coordinator
ecase@aacps.org
What is Schools in the Court?
Schools in the Court, hosted by the Anne Arundel County District Court in Annapolis, brings high school students from around Anne Arundel County to court to learn firsthand about the consequences of making bad decisions. Students watch actual criminal court proceedings, learn about the legal and financial consequences of being charged with offenses such as drunk driving, and hear from people who have experienced the personal and life-changing effects of poor choices. The students will also get a chance to meet members of the Maryland State Police K-9 squad.
“We want them to get an understanding of how the court system works, but we especially want them to understand how making wrong choices about things such as speeding, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, drug use and other crimes can deeply and adversely affect their lives,” said Anne Arundel County District Judge Shaem C.P. Spencer, who leads the program. “I look forward to this event and talking with the students. Some students are shocked when the defendants are not much older than they are. Some think the sentences are too light; others think they are too harsh. It’s always a good discussion.”
How do students participate in the Award Contest?
The Schools-In-Court: Better Choices–Better Tomorrow contest will extend the experience beyond the courtroom. Students will create and submit Public Service Announcements that reflect on their experience and empower other students to understand the power of making the correct choices.