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February 8 - 14, 2004 |
The John Marshall Law School Honors Five Graduates For Outstanding Achievements
Five January graduates were honored at commencement ceremonies for their academic achievements and John Marshall involvement.
Kenneth O. Kuykendall ranked first in the class. He was presented with the John N. Jewitt Scholarship for the highest rank the first year; the Abra N. Waterman Scholarship for the highest rank in the second year; the Edward T. Lee Scholarship for the highest rank in the third year, and the Graduate School Scholarship for the highest rank during the entire course of study in the evening division. Kuykendall received $1,500 in awards and free tuition for a graduate course in the LL.M. program.
Kuykendall also received the Lexis/Nexis Prize for the highest standing in his senior year, and the West Group prize as the evening division student with the highest scholastic standing in the first year. He also was elected into the Order of John Marshall, an honorary scholarship society founded in 1928.
The St. Charles resident was a Dean's Scholar and a Fred F. Herzog Scholarship recipient during his four years at John Marshall. Kuykendall was a member of the John Marshall Law Review.
He received his bachelor's degree in business from Eastern Illinois University, and a master's degree in taxation from DePaul University. Kuykendall is a tax manager for the Illinois Central Railroad.
Violeta I. Balan ranked second in the class. At commencement, she received the Graduate School Scholarship for earning the highest rank of the entire course of study from the day division. She will receive free tuition for a course in the LL.M. program. She also received the West Prize for the highest scholastic standing in the day division.
Balan was a member of the John Marshall Law Review and executive production editor of The Journal of Computer and Information Law. She was runner-up for Best Memorial Award in the 2003 Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, was a Dean's Scholar and winner of the Fred F. Herzog Scholarship.
During her career at John Marshall, Balan was a judicial extern for Judge Ann Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals, 7th Circuit, and with U.S. District Court Judge Ronald Guzman, Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division; was a law clerk at the Federal Trade Commission and at Cullen, Haskis, Nicholson & Menchetti, and a summer associate at Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw.
Before law school, Balan was assistant to the head of the Department of Basic Education for the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and worked for Allied International Headquarters and UniGroup Worldwide Headquarters. Balan emigrated from Romania. She received a bachelor's degree in international relations and French from Lake Forest College.
Leah Cohen received the Dean's Prize as the senior law student who made the greatest progress from the first semester, first year to the last semester, last year.
Cohen, a graduate of Northern Illinois University, clerked at Sidley Austin Brown & Wood before entering John Marshall. While a student, she was president of the Health Law Society. Cohen is pursuing a career in the health care arena where she can influence policy and legislation.
Mary Reid and Raul Serrato, class gift chairs, also received the Ambassador of the Year Award for their dedicated service to the Admission Office and the school. They routinely conducted tours for applicants, assisted with open houses and served as advisors to first-year students.
Reid had a 13-year career as a social worker before deciding to return to law school. She completed an externship in the legal department of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. She was president of the Christian Legal Society, the student representative to the Illinois State Bar Association and West Law, and was corresponding secretary for the Black Law Student Association. A single mother, Reid juggled her home and school schedules and worked part-time at a Chicago law firm.
Serrato was president of the Hispanic Law Students Association, the secretary of the International Law Society, and was a student representative of the law school's Diversity Committee. He helped spearhead the creation of a student-led mentoring program for first-semester minority students aimed at ensuring their success at the law school.
In his free time, he helped coach a high school debate team in the predominantly Mexican-American community of Pilsen-Little Village where he spent his youth. He hopes to use his legal education to help his community and inspire minority students to pursue law as a profession.
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Schedule of Events
February 11
- Civil Rights Film Series, Room 1200B, 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.
February 12
- Admissions Open House, Room 3East, 6:00 p.m.
February 17
- Multistate Bar Exam, Room 1101, 9:00 a.m.
- Career Services Program - How to Get a Job, Room 1200B, 12:30 p.m.
February 18
- Morning Bakery with the Dean, Student Lounge, 8:15 a.m.
- Civil Rights Film Series, Room 1200B, 12:00 and 4:00 p.m.
February 19
- Career Services Program - Interviewing Skills, Room 1200B, 12:30 p.m.
- ITCC Networking Event, Room 3East, 5:00 p.m.
A complete online listing of events scheduled at The John Marshall Law School can be found at the following URL: http://www.jmls.edu/calendar.htm
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Contents
John Marshall Garners Six Awards for its Publications
The results of two competitions for marketing publications have just been announced.
In the Service Industry Advertising Awards, competing in the category Education Services, The John Marshall Law School won:
- a silver award for the Viewbook
- a bronze award for the Career Services Office brochure targeted to employers.
In the 19th Annual Admissions Advertising Awards, competing in the category for schools with fewer than 2,000 students, The John Marshall Law School won:
- a gold award for the brochure announcing the summer program in Intellectual Property Law
- a bronze award for Nota Bene, the newsletter of the Center for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution
- a merit award for the Intellectual Property brochure produced for the Admission Office
- a merit award for the Annual Report of the Dean 2002-2003.
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Local Artist Decorates John Marshall's Walls
Dean Patricia Mell (center) and Associate Dean John Corkery (right), accept a watercolor of the law school building from local artist Carl Johnson (left). Johnson is a native Illinoisan who specializes in architectural painting. He says he always paints on location and uses pen and ink to detail the architectural subjects and watercolor to "add life and atmosphere." Additional samples of Johnson's artwork from around the city can be found on the west wall of the Sargis-Miner student lounge.
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John Marshall Alumnus Honored by Local Pro Bono Organization
Dean Patricia Mell (center) welcomes Geoffrey A. Vance (J.D. '96) (left), president of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation (CVLS), and Judge Sheldon Garber (J.D. '64) (right) to the law school, for the Annual Awards Ceremony for the organization. Garber was honored with the Court of Honor Award for his work as a supervisor of the heavily pro se eviction courtrooms, and for his appreciation and support for volunteer attorneys.
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Faculty Activity and Publications
Professor Damian Ortiz
Honors
He received his LL.M. in Real Estate Law during commencement ceremonies Jan. 18.
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Student Activities
February 9
The Corporate Law Association is taking orders for student business cards. They will format the cards. $20.00 for 500 cards. Members will be present in the student lounge to take your order.
February 11
The recently reactivated "Public Interest Law Council" will meet at 1:00 pm in room 201. David Diamond, director of Career Services, will speak. Everyone is welcome. This meeting will bring together students interested in the many areas of public interest law. Elections will be held.
February 12
The Entertainment Law Society will co-sponsor a program with the Career Services Office. Watch for notice of time and place.
February 13
The Corporate Law Association will be selling flowers for Valentine Day. Help support the Association and remember your special valentine.
A memorial service for our student, Zunaira Khader, will be held on February 26 at 5:00 p.m. in the Baim Courtroom. A reception will follow.