Elon Law recognized the achievements of thirteen students who completed the Law School’s academic requirements for graduation in the fall 2015 semester.
The reception honoring the J.D. candidates took place December 10 at Elon Law in downtown Greensboro, foreshadowing an era when all Elon Law students will graduate in two-and-a-half years as a result of Elon Law’s groundbreaking new curriculum.
In remarks before graduating students and their family members and friends, Elon Law Dean Luke Bierman discussed the opportunities that graduates could seize amidst a landscape of global economic, political, technological and cultural change.
“You are prepared to embrace these opportunities and turn them to your advantage,” Bierman said. “You will do so because you are smart, you are savvy and you are Elon Law graduates. You will do it because you are pioneers, you are brave and you dream big.”
Alan Woodlief Jr., senior associate dean and associate professor of law, highlighted the students’ extensive records of academic and professional accomplishment, noting that their experiences in the practice of law had enabled them to assist clients and advance justice.
“Your education was enriched by externship and employment opportunities which took you out of the classroom and put your education into practice – learning by doing – a hallmark of an Elon Law education,” Woodlief said. “You worked in a variety of settings, including the North Carolina Department of Justice, the U.S. Veterans’ Administration, District Attorney’s offices in places like Guilford, Durham and Forsyth County, judicial chambers clerking for judges of the business court and state trial courts, police departments in Guilford and Durham Counties, City Attorney’s Offices, Legal Aid of North Carolina, the Center for Death Penalty Litigation, Church World Service of Greensboro, local universities including UNC-Greensboro and Elon, and private law firms.”
“You all have amassed an impressive record of achievement,” Woodlief continued. “We congratulate you on all of these accomplishments and look forward to following you as you channel this same energy, focus, and commitment to excellence and service into your burgeoning legal careers.”
The thirteen Elon Law students honored as Juris Doctor candidates on December 10 include:
- Joshua Lee Bowers, B.S., Appalachian State University
- J. Shane Briggs, B.S., North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University
- Aaron Rhoades Davis, B.S., Greensboro College
- James Patrick Ellington, B.S., Appalachian State University
- Anne Noelle Evangelista, B.A., University of South Carolina
- Holly Kristen Ford, B.A., The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
- Camille Elyse Hill, A.B., Elon University
- Joni O’Neal Nichols, B.A., Alderson Broaddus College and Masters of Legal Studies, West Virginia University
- Michael F. Ohrenberger, B.S., Norwich University
- Meghan Marie O’Keeffe, B.A., Bridgewater College
- Jessica Denise Richardson, B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Gonzalo Mastache Ventura III, B.S., Johnson and Wales University
- Diamond Desiré Zephir, B.S., Guilford College
Additional speakers at the reception included: Melissa Duncan ’06 L’09, associate director of student and professional life; Andrew J. Haile, associate dean for academic affairs and associate professor of law; Gwendolyn Lewis L’13, alumni director; and, David L. Morrow II ’07 L’10, Elon University special advisor to the president and assistant chief of staff.
Formal commencement exercises for Elon Law’s Class of 2016 will be held Saturday, May 21, 2016 on Elon University’s main campus at 6 p.m.