usc law family >> 2017 commencement
You’ve Hit the Jackpot Calif. Attorney General Becerra addresses 2017 commencement California Attorney General Xavier Becerra urged new graduates of USC Gould to take on leadership roles and change the world. “From my perspective, you’ve hit the jackpot,” Becerra said during his commencement address on May 12 in USC’s Founders Park. “Think about the time we’re in right now. This is a time when Americans need experts in law. It’s a perfect time for you to use what you’ve been taught to change this world.” Dean Andrew Guzman cited the accomplishments of the graduates, who are heading into careers that span law firms of all sizes, as well as district attorney offices and prestigious foundations. “You’ve worked hard to get where you are,” he said. “And as you head into a career in law, let me share with you some good
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USCLaw magazine
news: Graduating from this law school makes you a leader. The degree you earn today puts you in that category.” The commencement ceremony also featured speeches from 2017 Class President John Stanley and international student speaker Nikita Dehal, who is from South Africa. There were 209 juris doctor recipients and 281 international students who received their Master of Laws. Among the friends and family in attendance was Charles Bakaly Jr. LLB ’52, an emeritus member of USC Gould’s Board of Councilors. Sixty-five years after his own graduation ceremony, Bakaly came to celebrate his grandson Charles (Chase) Bakaly IV earning his JD. The younger Bakaly said he was happy to carry on the Gould tradition. As for his grandfather? Bakaly said: “Besides his family, nothing means more to him than USC and the law school.”
