Elon Law's chapter of the Black Law Student Association (BLSA) welcomed first-year minority students at its second annual "Raising the Bar" multi-cultural dinner on August 27, with special guest Judge Denise Hartsfield, District Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District of North Carolina.
Attended by more than thirty students, including both current and former BLSA members, incoming students were welcomed by BLSA President Lucrecia Johnson ’11 and law school dean George R. Johnson, Jr., as well assistant dean for admissions Sharon Gaskin, director of career services Chris Smith, and associate dean for development Eugenia Leggett.
Judge Denise Hartsfield, District Court Judge for the 21st Judicial District of North Carolina, delivered the keynote address. An alumna of Wake Forest University School of Law and an adjunct law professor for Wake Law’s academic success program, Judge Hartsfield spoke to students about what will be required of them in law school and beyond.
“You will have to go back into your communities, but this time you’ll be wearing a new uniform. It is our responsibility to reach back and grab others, bringing them to new levels,” Hartsfield said.
Relaying humorous and powerful stories of her law school experiences and what to expect during the first year of law school, Hartsfield encouraged students to study hard, but also to support one another during their journey together.
BLSA President Lucrecia Johnson said she was happy to welcome many new members to BLSA and to Elon Law, and that the event had been a success especially because of the speaker.
“Judge Hartsfield is an inspiration to many of us and her insights about law school provided us with important guidance,” Johnson said. “We’re looking forward to an eventful and successful year together.”
By Tiffany N. Dyson, ’11
