Commencement speaker, Linda Klein Graduation Links Photographs Graduation Photo Gallery Video and Audio Commencement Ceremony Video Commencement Address: Linda Klein Other Material Graduation Bulletin (PDF Format) History of the Walking Stick

Graduation festivities began Friday afternoon on the Lewis Hall lawn with the annual awards ceremony and presentation of walking sticks. The John W. Davis Prize for Law, awarded to the graduate with the highest cumulative grade point average, was awarded to Avalon Jonah Frey of Charlottesville, Va.

Three students graduated summa cum laude, 16 graduated magna cum laude, and 19 graduated cum laude. 13 students were named to Order of the Coif, an honorary scholastic society that encourages excellence in legal education. A  list of honors and awards appears below.

In addition to achievements in the classroom, the Class of 2012 distinguished itself with its pro bono service to the law and the community. In all, the class completed 10,177 hours of service during this academic year, and 41 students were recognized for completing 100 hours or more of service.

The commencement ceremony began at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday with an opening invocation by Andrew W. "Uncas" McThenia, James P. Morefield Professor of Law, Emeritus. After the official welcome from President Ken Ruscio and remarks from Interim Dean Mark Grunewald, the candidates were awarded their degrees.

Linda Klein '83L, chair of the American Bar Association House of Delegates and managing shareholder of the Georgia offices of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, delivered this year's commencement address. In her remarks, Klein assured the graduates that they had made a good career choice.

"One of the best choices you ever made is why you are sitting here today. You chose to become a lawyer," said Klein. "I promise you that's true, even if you find yourself doubting it some days. The law is vital. Everyone needs access to the law. Indeed, knowing the law is how we make the right choices."

Read more about Linda Klein's address.

Special honors at Friday's awards ceremony went to the following students:

• Avalon Jonah Frey was awarded the John W. Davis Prize for Law, given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average.
  
• Kelsey Marie Baughman won the Academic Progress Award for the most satisfactory scholastic progress in the final year.
  
• Parker David Kasmer won the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association Award for effective trial advocacy.
  
• Sam Ferrell Alman Jr. won the Roy L. Steinheimer, Jr. Commercial Law Award for excellence in commercial law.
  
• Anthony Gerard Flynn Jr. won the Calhoun Bond University Service Award for significant contributions to the University community.
  
• Christine M. Shepard won the Frederic L. Kirgis, Jr., International Law Award for excellence in international law.
  
• Jennifer Grace Dean and Jonathan Randall Little shared in the Charles V. Laughlin Award for outstanding contributions to the moot court program.
  
• Ashleigh M. Greene won the Randall P. Bezanson Award for outstanding contributions to diversity in the life of the Law School community.
  
• Marc Joseph Zappala won the Virginia Bar Family Law Section Award for excellence in the area of family law.
  
• Andrew Shane Gerrish and Michael Hugh Hill shared in the American Bankruptcy Institute Medal for excellence in the study of bankruptcy law.
  
• Meghan Elaine Hobbs and Tegan Jo Peterson shared in the Barry Sullivan Constitutional Law Award for excellence in constitutional law.
  
• Ellis Harris Pretlow won the James W. H. Stewart Tax Law Award for excellence in tax law.
  
• Chaz Daniel Klaes won the Thomas Carl Damewood Evidence Award for excellence in the area of evidence.
  
• Tyler Simms Laughinghouse won the A. H. McLeod-Ross Malone Advocacy Award for distinction in oral advocacy.
  
• Negin Farahmand won the Student Bar Association President Award for services as the President of the Student Bar Association.
  
• Christine M. Shepard won the ALI-ABA Scholarship & Leadership Award for the student who best represents the combination of scholarship and leadership.
  

Summa Cum Laude

• Patrick Alfred Barthle
• Avalon Jonah Frey
• Christine M. Shepard

Magna Cum Laude

• Sam Ferrell Alman Jr.
• Jon Burtard
• Andrew Shane Gerrish
• Steven Maher Harkins
• Michael Hugh Hill
• Edward Shelton Hillenbrand
• Meghan Elaine Hobbs
• Parker David Kasmer
• Chaz Daniel Klaes
• Bobby Ray Martin
• Suzanne Elizabeth Peters
• Tegan Jo Peterson
• Ellis Harris Pretlow
• Emerald Grace Smith
• Aaron Leonard Wells
• Christopher Thomas Zona

Cum Laude

• John Patrick Becker
• Rudolph John Burshnic 
• Brian Calabrese
• Mark Edward Critchley
• Amanda Nichole Dufraine
• Claire M. Fernandez
• Anthony Gerard Flynn Jr.
• Stephen Gregory Harper
• Michael James Hartley
• Helena Leeann Jedziniak
• Anna Knecht
• Andrew Peter Larsen
• Tyler Simms Laughinghouse
• Todd Aaron Levy
• Vidal Carlos Maurrasse
• Mary Katherine Rother
• Marie Constance Scheperle
• Mallory Ashton Sullivan
• William Emery Underwood

Order Of The Coif

• Patrick Alfred Barthle
• Avalon Jonah Frey
• Andrew Shane Gerrish
• Steven Maher Harkins
• Michael Hugh Hill
• Meghan Elaine Hobbs
• Chaz Daniel Klaes
• Bobby Ray Martin
• Suzanne Elizabeth Peters
• Tegan Jo Peterson
• Ellis Harris Pretlow
• Christine M. Shepard
• Christopher Thomas Zona