College Holds Commencement for Classes of 2020 and 2021 On Friday, May 14, the University of Kentucky “In August 2018, we could not have imagined the J. David Rosenberg College of Law held a journey we would take. Over the next three years, commencement ceremony to honor the Class we would experience three buildings, two names, of 2021 as well as the Class of 2020, which did and one global pandemic,” McNamara said, not have a commencement ceremony because referring to spaces temporarily used by the law of COVID-19 safety restrictions. Hundreds school during the renovation and expansion of gathered – distanced and masked – at UK’s the law building and the college’s name change Memorial Coliseum for an in-person celebration, in December 2019. In March 2020, all classes following a year marked by in-person and transitioned to online instruction because of the online classes and numerous virtual events. global pandemic. All graduates from the Class of 2020 were recognized in the commencement program, “We were all sent home and forced to do law and nearly two dozen graduates from the class school from home — something that had never been done before,” McNamara recalled. “… returned to campus to attend the ceremony. We finally got back in the building and it all “We have just completed a year like no other in culminates here at an in-person commencement our lives,” said UK Rosenberg Law Dean Mary for which I am completely and totally grateful. J. Davis, who listed the myriad accomplishments While the world appeared to stop, the Class of of the classes of 2020 and 2021, which included 2021 did not. We persevered and succeeded.” organizing virtual symposia; partnering with the college to establish a student-led advisory board The faculty selected Aaron Meek of Lexington, on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; Kentucky, as the 2020 Faculty Cup recipient and participating in moot court and trial and Maya S. Marshall of Atlanta, Georgia, as the 2021 Faculty Cup recipient. The Faculty competitions. Cup recognizes a graduating student whose “Through all of these activities, the Class of 2020 endeavors, both in and outside of the classroom, and the Class of 2021 demonstrated outward made the law school a more interesting place focus that will continue to serve them as they for faculty and students alike. The recipients begin their legal careers,” Davis said. “We wish received an engraved silver julep cup presented you the best and we look forward to watching by Dean Davis. all of you, tomorrow’s leaders, have meaningful impact on the law, the profession, and the world The Class of 2020 Order of the Coif inductees were recognized as well as the students in beyond.” the Class of 2021 who are in the running for Barrett Block of Lexington, Kentucky, provided nomination and election to the Order of the remarks as the highest-ranked student in the Coif. The top 10 percent of the class will be inducted once all grades are final. Students Class of 2020. from both classes were recognized with the Pro “What makes the Rosenberg College of Law so Bono Award for completing at least 50 hours of special is the hearts of the people in it,” Block independent, law-related public service prior to said. “We’re not just colleagues; we are friends. graduation. Collectively, students from the two We put each other first and our work second. We classes completed over 2,150 hours of pro bono genuinely care about each other, not because we service to the public. are lawyers but because we are decent people. … It’s not what you do but who you do it for that Students selected Blanche Bong Cook, Robert E. Harding Jr. Associate Professor of Law, to really matters.” deliver commencement remarks on behalf of Block recognized his mom, dad, and sister in his the faculty. remarks. “I believe the greatest achievement today doesn’t belong to us — the ones wearing “These people in the front have won,” Cook the caps and the gowns,” he said. “No. The said about the students seated on the floor of greatest achievement today belongs to those the auditorium. “They have won. They have achieved the victory. Despite all the trials and who put us in the caps and gowns.” tribulations, they won. And they not only won for Allie McNamara of Nashville, Tennessee, the themselves, but they won for all of you.” highest-ranked student in the Class of 2021, provided remarks on behalf of her class.
4
UK LAW NOTES | FALL 2021
