Alumni Newsletter Winter 2013

W I N T E R

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UVA BLSA Alumni Newsletter

Message From the President Welcome to another edition of the BLSA Alumni Newsletter! In this edition we hope to give you a glimpse into some highlights of the chapter’s Fall 2012 Semester. I am very pleased with the work UVA BLSA has accomplished this fall. We took great strides in the areas of community service and outreach and I look forward to our continued success next semester.

We want to take this opportunity to invite you to the BLSA Alumni Weekend, which will take place from April 5-7, 2013. We want to thank those of you who were able to make it to Charlottesville this fall for the Alumni Dinner, and we look forward to seeing many more of you here this spring. As always please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions, comments or concerns!

--Amanda Turner

Continuing Our Tradition Thank you for taking the time to read the BLSA Alumni Newsletter for Winter 2013! BLSA is continuing to stay connected with alumni through this newsletter, our newly revamped website at www.uvablsa.org, Facebook, Twitter, Picasa, YouTube and Linkedin. Please use these resources to stay connected with UVA BLSA, and let us know what you think!

Save the Date!

Alumni Weekend

MABLSA Convention

NBLSA Convention

April 5-7, 2013

March 6-10, 2013

Feb. 13-17, 2013

Reconnect with former classmates and meet current law students.

Network with NBLSA members and alumni in Atlanta, GA.

Take part in the regional convention in downtown Pittsburgh, PA.

UVA BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2013

Outreach BLSA made tremendous strides this fall with our community outreach and social action in the Charlottesville community.

Admissions BLSA is proud to announce the creation of a Pre-Law NBLSA division. The division is spearheaded by Amanda Oakes, our BLSA Admissions & Recruitment Chair. The chapter is now comprised of twenty-four UVA undergraduate students. BLSA has also implemented the BLSA Personal Statement Program, designed to partner pre-law students with current BLSA members to develop more effective personal statements. One of the first participants in the program, Mathew Mahoney, has already been accepted to UVA Law!

Guiding Future Leaders This fall, over 20 students from the African-American Scholars Alliance at Albemarle High School visited the Law School to receive a tour, learn about legal careers, and discuss what it takes to be successful in college and in postgraduate studies. UVA BLSA will work with these students in the spring semester to raise scholarship money to help the seniors attend college.

Winter Drives BLSA furthered its community outreach efforts with a children’s book and toy drive in November. By donating coloring books, crayons, and toys, BLSA gave the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at UVA Hospital a wonderful start to the holiday season. BLSA also sponsored a law school wide coat drive for the local nonprofit H.Y.P.E. (Helping Young People Evolve), which directly benefited Charlottesville residents.

HIV-AIDS Awareness In December, BLSA participated in World Aids Day by wearing shirts that highlighted this year’s theme: Getting to Zero. This event was developed to emphasize the seriousness of the continued fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS. BLSA takes pride in its continued action within the community and intends to resume its service this spring.

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UVA BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2013

Community Service Week 2012 This year the Black Law Students Association has increased its commitment to community service. As a result, the organization participated in, organized, and sponsored several service events. In September, BLSA completed a very successful Community Service Week. Nearly two-dozen volunteers aided non-profit organization in the region. This event involved BLSA members building a home with HABITAT for Humanity,

participating in field day at Crozet Elementary School, sorting through materials for Books Behind Bars, and assisting staff at Piedmont C.A.S.A., which provides supervised advocates for abused and neglected children. Our professionalism and work during this event has earned the organization continued praise within the Charlottesville community and we look forward to continuing this service as we move into the next semester.

Social Action UVA BLSA Pens Op-Ed for Fisher v University of Texas Supreme Court Case On October 9, 2012 UVA BLSA issued a statement on the Fisher v. Texas Supreme Court case entitled “Diversity is not a Dirty Word.” The statement challenges common arguments and myths against the use of race in higher education and emphasizes UVA BLSA’s support of diversity and equal opportunity for all students. You can find the statement on the UVA BLSA website at the following link: www.uvablsa.org/2/post/20120/10/uva-blsa-issues-statementon-fisher-v-texas-supreme-court-case.html 3

UVA BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2013

Inside UVA BLSA Members of the Month To encourage and highlight participation in BLSA activities BLSA has instituted a member of the month program for members that exhibit outstanding commitment to BLSA. The first winner of the award was 3L Aida Fitzgerald for her continued role and participation in BLSA events; particularly community service. November’s winner was 3L Najla Long who dedicated plenty of time and guidance to 1L’s for their resumes and cover letters during the fall. We look forward to highlighting more individual BLSA members in the coming months.

Career Training This winter, UVA BLSA hosted a Career Bash, which prepared 1Ls for the upcoming recruiting season. The event showed the first year students proper interview attire, a sample mock interview, resume preparation, lessons on networking, and tips from Kevin Donovan, Dean of Career Services. Following the Career Bash BLSA hosted its annual 1L Diversity Reception and Mock Interview Program. The event was a huge success with over 40 attorneys and 50 students in attendance.

Education Training A key event for education training was the Exam-Taking Workshop for 1Ls this fall. Professor Karen Moran facilitated the workshop, and it provided 1Ls with a framework for approaching law school exams. BLSA subsequently held multiple mock exams to allow students to refine the tips and strategies suggested by Professor Moran in a simulated test environment.

Social Events BLSA members recognize the value of taking some time from studies to meet other members of BLSA and other organizations. This year, BLSA facilitated these opportunities by holding a wine tasting, a Welcome Back BBQ, a Halloween party, and a BLSA study break that allowed members to enjoy a delicious meal in the BLSA office during finals.

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UVA BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2013

A Message from the Alumni Chair Terell Simpson (14’)

On November 8, 2012 BLSA held its annual alumni dinner.

This event gives BLSA members from past years an opportunity to catch up with former classmates and also provides an opportunity for current students to meet and develop relationships with alumni. This year the event also allowed alumni members the opportunity to see the new renovations to the law school including the creation of the Karsh Student Services Center. The event consisted of a reception in the Purcell Reading Room, where attendees had the opportunity to hear an impromptu poetry recital by the Honorable John Thomas. The event culminated in a pleasant sit-down dinner in the Stone Dining Room where Kiara Williams, a second generation UVA BLSA member gave a heartfelt speech highlighting what BLSA has meant to her family over the years. Kiara’s father, Sanford Williams 96’, employed the generosity of BLSA members to secure her first babysitters during his time in Law School. When I look back at my time with BLSA I am certain I will think of my current peers as family, just as Mr. Williams did almost two decades ago.

BLSA P.R.I.D.E

Black Alumni Weekend 2013 From April 5-7, 2013 UVA BLSA will be hosting its Alumni Reunion in conjunction with UVA’s Black Alumni Weekend. The theme for UVA BLSA this year is P.R.I.D.E: Professionalism. Respect. Integrity. Diversity.

Excellence. Keeping with this theme, UVA BLSA will focus on BLSA PRIDE when celebrating the history of our chapter and the many opportunities of the future. This will be a fun and exciting experience, and it will be a great opportunity to see all the new changes at the law school and revisit the beautiful Charlottesville area in April.

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UVA BLSA ALUMNI NEWSLETTER

WINTER 2013

Alumni Weekend 2013 Our biennial alumni weekend takes place the weekend of April 5, 2013. If you were not at the alumni dinner, you missed out on a wonderful event and opportunity to reconnect with friends and current BLSA students. You can RSVP by clicking the invitation on the homepage of UVABLSA.org. You can also RSVP by emailing Alumni@uvablsa.org or BLSAalumni@virginia.edu.

See You There!

UVA Black Law Student Association 580 Massie Road, Room 192A Charlottesville, Virginia 22903