Stetson Lawyer
EVENTS
GRADUATION 2021
BY TOM DANIEL
A NEW GROUP OF “JUSTICE WARRIORS” STEPS OUT INTO THE WORLD
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raduations are always milestone events at any educational institution. For students graduating from Stetson Law, it is truly the end of the preamble to their careers as lawyers.
On Saturday, May 1, 2021, Stetson University College of Law celebrated commencement ceremonies recognizing graduates from the December 2020 and May/August 2021 Classes. Four separate events were held outdoors in the Plaza Mayor Courtyard of the Gulfport campus in order to keep attendance limited and follow CDC guidelines on physical distancing.
Dean Michèle Alexandre opened the ceremony, greeting the attendees and the soon-to-be graduates. She drew special attention to the classes’ commitment to serving the community. 16
“The December 2020 and May 2021 classes volunteered more than 25,000 hours of community service,” Alexandre said. “Many of our graduates took our pro bono requirement to the next level by continuing to serve their communities and society after they had far exceeded the required number of hours.” She closed her remarks by encouraging the new graduates to use their skills to advocate for justice. “You have shown resilience, that Stetson Law grit, and a special breed of dogged commitment,” she said. “I am so proud of who you are as humans, scholars, and legal minds … you now have the tools to be change agents; justice warriors who can transform the world.” Stetson University President Dr. Christopher Roellke followed, noting that the graduates not only had to endure the usual rigors of law school, but also the challenges of attending Stetson Law during a worldwide pandemic. “You made it through lockdowns, online learning, virtual meetings, bad audio, lost internet connections, canceled bar exams, masks, hand-washing, and physical distancing,” he said. South African judge and human rights lawyer, Edwin Cameron, delivered the commencement address via prerecorded video from
