NCBA president-elect to 2022 Elon Law grads: ‘The time to sow seeds and connect with others is now’

When North Carolina Bar Association President-elect Patti Ramseur graduated from law school, she had no idea she’d have the opportunity to preside over the state’s premier voluntary organization of lawyers, judges, paralegals and law students.

“It wasn’t a plan, it wasn’t a goal and it certainly wasn’t something that I was actively seeking,” Ramseur said. “In fact, until about eight months ago, I can say it still wasn’t a plan.”

But making herself available and connecting with others made this opportunity a possibility, and these are attributes she urged Elon Law’s Class of 2022 graduates to develop as well to make their journey in the legal profession a fruitful one.

“My legal career has been much more rewarding, personally and professionally, because of the opportunities I’ve had to connect with others,” she said to Elon Law’s Class of 2022. “Take every opportunity that you can to get out of your office to meet people face-to-face and connect. Participate in the Bar Association, or any organization, where you can make a difference and help make our communities better places to live.”

On Friday, Dec. 9, Elon University conferred degrees to 127 members of the Class of 2022 — tied for the largest class in Elon Law’s history — inside of Alumni Gym where loved ones had gathered to celebrate the end of their legal education and the commencement of their legal careers.

In her commencement address, Ramseur spoke about how a chance encounter with North Carolina judge Ralph Walker at a law school reception event drastically shifted her career plans. She had initially aspired to move to Chattanooga, Tennessee, after graduation from law school, but her meeting with Walker led to her being offered a clerkship with him that she ended up accepting. She gained invaluable experience during her clerkship, seeing firsthand how “members of this noble profession should conduct themselves and engage in the practice of law.”

If it weren’t for that chance connection, Ramseur said, she would’ve missed such a pivotal opportunity in her early career. It was a lesson she learned early on, and she said she hopes the Class of 2022 learns it as well.

“Don’t wait. The time to sow seeds and connect with others is now,” Ramseur said. “Our community, our state and our nation need smart, engaged lawyers who are connected to each other and to our communities. Graduates, congratulations and I look forward to connecting with you in the future.”

The 15th School of Law Commencement featured a welcome by Student Bar Association President Faisal Sulman L’22. During his welcome, Sulman said he often analogizes life to being a book with “lots of colorful pictures and printed in a font that only you can read.” Sulman said he and his Elon Law classmates now share one chapter, a chapter that started in August 2020.

The Class of 2022 is the first Elon Law class to have started and finished law school entirely during the pandemic. Sulman noted that they have persevered and now should be proud of what they’ve accomplished.

“Your book doesn’t end today, only this chapter called ‘Law School,'” Sulman said. “When you keep turning the pages, do not be afraid to write in the margins. That’s how you’ll stand out. Finish this chapter, finish the next, then admire what you have done. You have earned it.”

In his student address, Thomas Harvey L’22 said the commencement was bittersweet. Having spent the last two and half years together, the ceremony was a deserved celebration of all their work but also a reminder that they will no longer be together with the regularity that comes with full-time school.

“In fact, the next time I see some of you may be on the opposite side of a courtroom. And if you are opposing council, any of you, I know I will have to bring my A-game … because you went to Elon Law School,” Harvey said.

“But just remember, I went to Elon Law School too!”

The commencement also saw the presentation of Elon Law’s highest honor — the David Gergen Award for Leadership and Professionalism. The award is given to an individual from the graduating class whose activities represent the “twin principles of leadership and professionalism.”

Named in honor of David Gergen, a former adviser to four U.S. presidents whose professional life and contributions have embodied the highest levels of selfless leadership and service. Gergen currently serves as chair of the Elon Law Advisory Board. For the Class of 2022, the Gergen Award was presented to Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua L’22.

President Connie Ledoux Book charged each graduate with upholding the four pillars of the university’s honor code — honesty, integrity, responsibility and respect.

“Use Elon’s values when you encounter the inevitable hard choices ahead. Lean on them and each other when you need to reason things out. Remember that we are forever bound together by these values,” she said.

“I hope you display your Elon diploma proudly in your homes or offices and stay connected to your new alma mater as Elon alumni. You are lifelong members of the Elon family,” Book concluded in her charge. “Congratulations Class of 2022, and long live Elon!”

Candidates for the Degree of Juris Doctor Class of 2022

Tyler James Adkins
B.S., Virginia Commonwealth University

Emmanuel Agyemang-Dua
B.A., University of Virginia
M.P.H., University of Virginia

Deidra Ann Alexander
B.S., B.A., Oglethorpe University

Kaitlin Krista Amalfitano
B.S., University of Delaware

Morgan Marie Ames
B.A., University of South Carolina

Heather Elisabeth Andrews
B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Hayley Anhalt
B.S., Radford University

Dara Arroyo Longoria
B.A., University of Puerto Rico

Sarah Arroyo 
B.S., B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Samantha Lauren Baker
B.A., Miami University

Ayana Elizabeth Banks
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

David Scott Belisle
B.S., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Anna M. Benitez
B.A., Hope College

William Caine Betterton
B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Afshan Amber Bhatia
B.A., Emory University

Pat Bidwell
B.F.A., Appalachian State University

Hannah Ashton Boles
B.S., Western Carolina University

Corey Brandenburg
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Theresa Ann Brunner
B.A., Trinity Washington University

Benjamin Bullins
B.A., Appalachian State University

Victoria Anne Burgess
B.S., Sam Houston State University

Allison Marie Burke
B.A., Florida Gulf Coast University

Cameron Alexis Capp
B.A., University of Delaware

Jeannette Lee Carson
B.S., Lincoln University
M.A., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Morgan Ward Carter
B.S., Queens University of Charlotte

Christine Marie Carver
B.A., Coker College

Sterling Randal Chafin
B.B.A., Marshall University

Nathaniel Ross Chapman
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Derek Chouinard
B.A., Marymount University

Molly Rose Ciaccio
B.S.W., Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania

Kevin Martin Claussen
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Asheville

James Cardwell Coleman
B.A., Davidson College

Briana Nicole Cool
B.A., Le Moyne College

Jeanna Nicole Cooper
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Amanda Catherine Couture
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Daniel Cresci
B.A., Gettysburg College

Jason Arthur Davis
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Alison DeHoek
B.A., The University of Alabama

Davis Jaren Andrew Diethrich
B.A., Rollins College

David Joseph DiMaggio
B.S., Appalachian State University
M.A., Arizona State University

Conor Drake
B.A., University of Wisconsin-Madison

Morgan Nicole Earp
B.A., Arkansas Tech University

Catherine Eteri Elbakidze
B.A., Salem College

Emily Joyce Erickson
B.S., The University of Montana Western
M.S., Winthrop University

Delilah Fladger
B.A., Brooklyn College

Ashley Vanessa Garcia
B.A., B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Hannah Lauren Gelband
B.A., American University

Robert Byrne George
B.A., Hampden-Sydney College

Michael Gibeley
B.A., Elon University

Tamara Malen Gomez
B.A., Queens University of Charlotte

Dylan Scout Graham
B.A., Georgia College and State University

Brittany Sloane Graybeal
B.S., Gardner-Webb University

Caitlin Virginia Born-Green
B.A., Berry College

Cynthia Dawn Hager
B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Thomas Harold Harvey
B.A., California State University, Northridge
M.H.A., California State University, Bakersfield

Athena Emaney Henry
B.S., Georgia State University

Jeffrey N. Hudgins
B.S., Georgia Institute of Technology

Gabrielle Hull Parish
B.S., Winthrop University

Kailyn Lorraine Hutchins
B.S., North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Madeline Loving Kellas
B.A., Rhodes College

Nicole Kirschler
B.A., Pennsylvania State University
MBA, Pennsylvania State University

Madison Renee Lengel
B.S., Florida State University

Christine Leonard
B.A., Campbell University

Jordyn Levinsky-Carter
B.A., University of Colorado Boulder

Quianna Lewis
B.A., Howard University

Madison H. Libby
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jordan Rose Lockhart
B.A., Elon University

Dawson Tate Lybbert
B.S., Brigham Young University

Emily Catherine Maggio
B.A., Auburn University

Tess Mahosky
B.S., University of Pittsburgh
M.E.L.P., Vermont Law and Graduate School

Marina Christina Malak
B.A., University of South Carolina

William Andrew Mason
B.A., Christopher Newport University

Emily Brenn Mason
B.S., Washington and Lee University

Leah Alexandra McLean
B.S., Towson University

Cydney Alexis Meadows
B.A., Wake Forest University

James Chandler Miller
B.A., Clemson University

Kylyn Nikole Mondor
B.S., North Carolina State University

John Taylor Moody
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Joseph Paul Nader
B.A., The Ohio State University

Jillian Marie Noble
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Wilmington

Violetta Normatova
B.S., Metropolitan State University of Denver

Whitney Rebekah Oakley
B.S., Clemson University

Babatunde Sunday Opaleye
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Kaitlin Nicole O’Reilly
B.S., Appalachian State University

Carson Lee Pace
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Morgan Sydney Painley
B.A., James Madison University

Simi Avakash Patel
B.A., Seton Hall University
M.P.A., Seton Hall University

Mark Walter Pfanstiehl
B.A., Hood College

Lori Nicole Pittman
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Dakota Grayson Price
B.A., Bob Jones University

Benjamin Rex Putnam
B.A., Wake Forest University

Paraskevie Katerina Ramfos
B.A., University of Alabama

Elizabeth Anna Ranson
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Victoria Fredricka-Linette Rasberry
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Jack Joseph Rasmussen
B.S.B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Eric Loren Rhoton Jr.
B.A., Elon University

Michael W. Ruble
B.A., Saint Michael’s College

Olivia Morgan Rust
B.S., Methodist University

James D. Sharpe III
B.A., Guilford College

Raini Keaton Singleton
B.S., University of Georgia

Alyiah Smiling
B.A., North Carolina Central University

Conor Smith
B.A., Florida Atlantic University

Rosemary Gene Sparrow
B.S., Georgia State University

Cydney Lorene Spencer
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Taylor Kay Squires
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Morgan Elizabeth Stacy
B.A., Presbyterian College

Faisal Sulman
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Alex B. Swanson
B.S., Western Carolina University

Rahwa Theodros
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Marissa Ann Thomas
B.A., Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Kayla Bray Tilley
B.A., William Peace University

Morgan Marie Tompkins
B.A., Guilford College

Hannah Cunning Valente
B.A., B.S., Providence College

Victoria M. Waddell
B.S., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Amanda Elizabeth Wagner
B.S., Presbyterian College

Mary Gallimore Walker
B.S., Appalachian State University

Matthew W. Warman
B.S., DePaul University

Madison Brooke Watkins
B.A., Meredith College

Jennifer Lynne Weigle
B.A., B.A., Randolph College

Cameron Scott Williams
B.S., North Carolina Central University

Brittany Dóris Willis
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Chandler Lee Woods
B.S., Elon University

Kelly Workman
B.A., Augustana College

Karsen Danyél Wright
B.A., Winston-Salem State University

Jameilah Branielle Wyatt-Buford
B.A., Hampton University

Isaac Alvarado Ybarra
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Kaihua Tymon Zhou
B.A., Brigham Young University