11
B R I E F S
STETSON HONORED WITH
DELANO S. STEWART
DIVERSITY AWARD
B Y B R A N D I PALMER
Stetson University College of Law was honored on April 23
with the Delano S. Stewart Diversity Award, in recognition
of outstanding contributions to improving the status
of African-Americans in the community during the George
Edgecomb Bar Association scholarship banquet. Stetson Law
student Reed Blair J.D. ’18 received the GEBA Bar Prep
Scholarship and was recognized during the banquet. The keynote
speaker was Dick Vitale, famed sports analyst and cancer research
philanthropist.
“The honor is a significant milestone in Stetson’s longstanding
partnership with GEBA, and our continued efforts to recruit
diverse law students and promote greater inclusion in the legal
field,” said Carmen Johnson J.D. ’12, Stetson’s associate director
for Admissions and Diversity Initiatives. “Delano Stewart’s
pioneering example serves as a welcomed reminder to the Stetson
community, including our law students, to not settle for the
status quo as we advocate for more equality throughout our
communities.”
Stetson Law plays a dynamic role in the Tampa Bay metro area,
with its main campus in Gulfport and a satellite center in Tampa.
B Y B R A N D I PALMER
Six generous law firms are currently sponsoring Book Awards
at Stetson University College of Law to reward the most
academically successful students in Bankruptcy (Latham,
Shuker, Eden & Beaudine LLC), Commercial Transactions
(Robert Eckard Law), Trial Advocacy (Kemp, Ruge & Green),
Contracts (DSK Law), Professional Responsibility (Killgore,
Pearlman, Stamp, Denius & Squires), and Research & Writing
II/ Environmental Law Section (Hopping, Green & Sams).
Law firms sponsoring Book Awards for Stetson University
College of Law students make a three-year commitment
to sponsor a class and make a gift to the law school. The
highest achieving students in each sponsored class receive
the award and a plaque to honor their accomplishments.
(L–R): Former Assistant Dean of Strategic Enrollment Management
Laura Zuppo, Assistant Dean of International and Graduate Programs
JR Swanegan, student Jonathan Blair, Associate Director of Career and
Professional Development Joann Grages Burnett J.D. ‘08, student GEBA
2018 scholarship recipient Reed Blair, Associate Director for Admissions
and Diversity Initiatives Carmen Johnson J.D. ‘12, Delano Stewart (award’s
namesake), Former Law Dean Christopher Pietruszkiewicz, Director
of Admissions Darren Kettles, student Brandy Orth Becker, student
Keongela Norton, and student Assita Toure. Photo courtesy Christopher
Pietruszkiewicz.
Opportunities for giving are still available for several classes.
Interested in learning more about making a donation to
sponsor a class and a high-achieving student for a Book
Award?
Contact Development and Alumni Relations Assistant
Dean Kevin Hughes at 727-562-7318 or khughes@law.
stetson.edu
FILLING A NEED: BOOK
AWARD SPONSORS SUPPORT
FUTURE STETSON LAWYERS
Stetson University is also home to a College of Arts and Sciences,
School of Business Administration, and School of Music in
DeLand, with a university satellite center in Celebration. Stetson
Law is ranked no. 1 in trial advocacy and no. 2 in legal writing by
U.S. News & World Report. Stetson has also been recognized as one
of the Top 20 most diverse law schools in the nation by Prelaw
magazine and was honored as a National Diversity Outreach
Champion by the National Black Pre-Law Conference.
11
Evin Tilton J.D. ‘13 and Brian Remler.
/stetson.edu
link