USC Law’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA) capped off a successful year of events and fundraising with its annual Alumni Dinner, honoring award recipients and introducing new leadership whilst celebrating over a three-course meal at the University Club.
The highlight of the night was keynote speaker California Court of Appeal Associate Justice Jeffrey W. Johnson, who gave an inspiring speech expounding the importance of cherishing others’ achievements and working every day for justice and opportunity for all."
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| Justice Jeffrey W. Johnson |
Johnson shared the story of the late Justice Edwin Jefferson ’31, the first black judge west of the Mississippi, who worked as a janitor to fund his own USC Law education. Even though Jefferson was excluded from USC fraternities and was the only black student in the law school at the time, he insisted he never felt discrimination until he passed the California Bar in 1931. Jefferson went on to serve as a prominent Court of Appeal justice.
“We must find ways to serve and overcome and to make incremental changes that lead us all closer to the unobtainable goal of perfection,” Johnson said. “If we persevere for that goal, we can all make a difference.”
Following Johnson’s speech, BLSA co-presidents Gabrielle Bass ’13 and Derek Kigongo ’13 announced they will be handing down their presidencies to Kyle Joseph ’14 and Autumn Anderson ’14, who said they were honored by the prestigious leadership opportunity.
“The event was a huge success,” Kigongo said. “There was a great turnout of current students, alumni, and prospective students. We are very proud to turn over control of BLSA to next year's executive board.”
BLSA applauds the following USC Law students for their academic achievement and recognizes them as scholarship or grants recipients. Also noted are their respective summer employment plans.
Name: Lauren De Lilly
Award(s): USC Law Summer Fellowship for the 2012; 2012-13 Legal Writing fellow
Summer Employment: Sidley Austin, LLP for the first half of the summer and then USC General Counsel's Office for the remainder of the summer
Name: Douglas Hewlett
Award(s): 2012 Winston & Strawn Diversity Scholarship.
Summer Employment: Winston & Strawn
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| BLSA co-presidents Gabrielle Bass '13 and Derek Kigongo |
Name: Amani Floyd
Award(s): Fulbright & Jaworski USC BLSA 1L Scholarship
Summer Employment: Not yet solidified
Name: Jasmyn Jones
Award(s): PILF grant
Summer Employment: US Attorney's Office
Name: Joshua Moore
Award(s): Dr. Carl M. Franklin & Mrs. Carolyn C. Franklin Summer Stipend for a First Year Student
Summer Employment: Children's Law Center of Los Angeles
Name: Ashley Caldwell
Award(s): Fulbright and Jaworski 1L Scholarship, Trope and Trope Fellowship
Summer Employment: Harriet Buhai Center
Name: Amadi Jordan-Walker
Award(s): PILF Grant
Summer Employment: Legal Aid Foundation of LA
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| BLSA's 2012/2013 executive board member |
Name: Gabrielle Bass
Award(s): 2012 Public Interest Law Foundation BLSA Grant
Summer Employment: Law clerk for the New York County Defender Services in Manhattan
“Could not have done it without the help and support of the executive board.”
Name: Amanda Murray
Award(s): As a member of USC Law's National Moot Court Team, Amanda was the “best oralist” in the John J. Gibbons Criminal Procedure Moot Court Competition
Future Employment: Drinker Biddle & Reath at their home office in Philadelphia, PA
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