Wednesday, May 23, 2018

Wed, 23 May 2018
Edie Swann, Director of Public Affairs

Liberty University School of Law held its 2018 Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 19, in the Center for Music and the Worship Arts Concert Hall. 

The ceremony recognized graduates earning the Associate of Arts in Paralegal Studies, Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies, Juris Masters, and Juris Doctors degrees.  B. Keith Faulkner, dean of the law school, gave the welcoming remarks followed by an invocation by Professor Cynthia Tompkins.

“This graduation represents a watershed moment for some, the culmination of a lifetime of accomplishments for others, and a new beginning for all,” said Faulkner. “The launch of these new careers in the profession of law at every level is filled with possibilities and promise and significant responsibilities.”  

Zachary C. Bolitho, Deputy Chief of Staff and Associate Deputy Attorney General from the U.S. Department of Justice, was the guest speaker for the law school ceremony. Bolitho also serves as the Attorney General’s ex officio representative on the U.S. Sentencing Commission.  Previously, he was a law professor at Campbell University School of Law in Raleigh, North Carolina where he was twice voted “Professor of the Year.”  Prior to becoming a law professor, he was an Assistant U.S. Attorney where he served in both the Appellate Section and the General Crimes Section. Earlier in his legal career, Bolitho practiced civil litigation at the international law firm of Jones Day and served as a law clerk to Judge David W. McKeague of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. He received his B.A. summa cum laude from the University of Mount Union, and his J.D. summa cum laude from The Ohio State University, Moritz College of Law.

As part of the Hooding and Conferring of Degrees, the Roger C. Bern Award Recipient is given the opportunity to place the academic hoods over the heads of each graduate as they walk across the stage in the processional. This year’s recipient of the R.C.B. award was Professor Scott E. Thompson who is also the law school’s director of the Center for Lawyering Skills.

Student special achievements were recognized and included the following:

Juris Doctor with Honors
Summa cum laude-Micah J. Long
Magna cum laude–Levi D. Mauldin, Christina R. Nelson, and Stephen C. Schahrer
Cum laude–Johnna N. Chick and Thomas P. Morris
 
Juris Master with Honors
High Distinction–Ashley Smith 
Distinction–Amanda Ofstedahl
 
Bachelor’s Degree with Honors
Summa cum laude–Kimberly Buzzell, Crystal Cook, Ollie Dodge, Sonia Jones, Emily Morey, Sarah Smith, and Brenda Taylor
Magna cum laude–Samantha Epperson, Christopher Schwendeman, and Tricia Young
Cum laude-Cherie Bouren, Brittany Campbell, Shasta Doty, Jordan Dressler, Shaina Hupp, Kimberly Imperial, and Julia Voyles
 
Associate Degree with Honors
Sandra Awad, Hannah Cribb, Erica Jones, Miharldia Moreland, and Michele Rhaney
 
Graduation with Military Service Recognition
Franz E. Bernard, Jonathan P. Bowman, and Mark Hayward
 

The ceremony concluded with a charge to the graduates by the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of Law, Timothy M. Todd, followed by a benediction given by the 2017-18 Student Bar Association Chaplain, Nathan D. Freier.

Photos from the event are available and may be downloaded here using the password solgrad2018.

For more information about Liberty University School of Law, please visit our website or call (434) 592-5300 to make an appointment to tour the law school.