RALEIGH — Campbell University’s Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law conferred 155 Juris Doctor degrees Friday at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts during its 44th hooding and graduation ceremony.
Nottingham Law School Deputy Dean Matthew Homewood bestowed Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees on Joonu-Noel Andrews Coste and John Edward Ryan III on behalf of Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom.
“Today is the culmination of a seemingly endless amount of hard work, preparation and sacrifice,” Dean J. Rich Leonard said. “We celebrate your accomplishments to date, and we look forward to watching as you launch your new careers. You have gone to law school in the oddest of times. Throughout it all, you demonstrated resilience and good humor that will aid you in your profession. As you spread out across big firms and small, big cities and small hamlets, private, public, academic and corporate positions, I hope you leave here as warriors for democracy and justice.”
U. S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit Judge James Wynn was the commencement speaker. In his entertaining and inspirational speech, Wynn told the graduates that today “you have transferred yourselves from wanna-be lawyers to gonna-be lawyers.” He added, “Be cool in all you do and leave the world a better place than you found it.”
Valedictorian Aryana Ainolhayat thanked her family and friends for their support and praised her classmates for their resiliency during the pandemic. “I know you will all make wonderful attorneys,” she said.
You can watch the recording of the Graduation Ceremony on YouTube at this link or click on the video below.
As part of the graduation ceremony, the following awards were announced:
The Howard Memorial Christian Citizenship Award is awarded to the individual whose citizenship and leadership exemplify the Christian character and aspirations of the School of Law. Established by the Howard Memorial Christian Education Fund in memory of Barry Howard.
- Aryana Ainolhayat of Fayetteville
Third-Year Academic Achievement Award is awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic average in his or her third year.
- Aryana Ainolhayat of Fayetteville
Richard A. and Nikki A. Lord Outstanding Graduate Award is awarded to the individual who excels academically as well as in additional endeavors thereby contributing fully to the School of Law, his or her peers, and the legal profession. This award, which recognizes overall excellence, was established by Campbell Law Professor Emeritus Richard A. Lord.
- MaryAnne Mulligan Hamilton of Raleigh
Jessie and Elizabeth Leonard Valedictorian Award established by Dean J. Rich Leonard for the graduating valedictorian, named in honor and memory of his parents.
- Aryana Ainolhayat of Fayetteville
Dean’s Outstanding Improvement Award is awarded to the individual exhibiting the most outstanding academic improvement over his or her law school career. The recipient is selected by the Dean and Associate Dean.
- Christina Belville of Raleigh
Robert A. Jenkins Award is awarded to the individual whose work in various competitions or other areas best represents the School of Law to the community, the profession and the public.
- Miriam Denise Sheppard of Snow Hill
National Association of Women Lawyers Award is awarded to an individual based on academic achievement, motivation, and potential to contribute to the advancement of women in the profession.
- Maren Hope Lowrey of Rochester, Illinois
Norman Adrian Wiggins Estate Planning Award is in memory of Dr. Norman Adrian Wiggins, the late president and chancellor of Campbell University, in recognition of the best performance in the estate tax and planning area.
- Manuel X. Colon of Greensboro
Student Bar Association Service Award is awarded to the individual who provides unusual service to the student body and the School of Law.
- Jillian Berry Camp of Greenville
International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award is awarded for distinguished achievement in the student advocacy program.
- Michale J. Vitale III of Auburn, New York
North Carolina Advocates for Justice Student Advocacy Awards
These awards are presented to the students showing the most significant improvement during their required Trial Advocacy performance sections as evidenced by their performance and grade; leadership endeavors; academic success; and collegial respect and work ethic. These awards are sponsored by the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. This year’s recipients are:
- Claudia Barceló of Raleigh, Ryan Marie Cooke of Southern Pines and Hunter Grey Pethel of Greensboro
Calhoun Advocacy Award is awarded for the best performance in the trial and appellate advocacy program. Established by M. Jean Calhoun, Class of 1980.
- Justin B. Lockett of Rolesville
Safran Moot Court Award is awarded for outstanding contribution to the moot court program at the School of Law. Established by Perry R. Safran, Class of 1981.
- Brandon Lewis Brower of Charlotte
Rebecca Ann Phillips Memorial Award was established by the Class of 2011 in memory of their classmate. Awarded to the individual who exemplifies honorable ideals and demonstrating an interest in representing victims of domestic violence.
- Kacie Ann Campbell of Asheville
ALI CLE Scholarship & Leadership Award is awarded to the individual who best represents a combination of scholarship and leadership, the qualities embodied by the American Law Institute.
- Justin B. Lockett of Rolesville
Pro Bono Publico Award is awarded to the individual whose demonstrated commitment to pro bono activities exemplifies the aspirations of the School of Law and the best intentions of the legal profession.
- Jillian Berry Camp of Greenville
Outstanding Externship Student Award is awarded for excellence in clinical fieldwork and for exceptionally thoughtful, self-reflective participation in an accompanying externship course. Sponsored by the Clinical Legal Education Association.
- Lauren Katherine Cook of Asheville
American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers Student Award is a cash award given to the graduating student who has exhibited the competency, ethics, and skills to elevate the practice of family law. It is sponsored by the North Carolina chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
- Christina Belville of Raleigh
The Order of Barristers
Membership in the national society recognizing outstanding performance in the art of advocacy. This year’s recipients are:
- Brandon Lewis Brower of Charlotte
- Kacie Ann Campbell of Asheville
- Tabitha Mandela Cooke of Garner
- Jennifer Alejandra Garcia of Raleigh
- Justin B. Lockett of Rolesville
- Miriam Denis Sheppard of Snow Hill
- Michael J. Vitale III of Auburn, New York
- Camille Jean Wrotenberry of Rathdrum, Idaho
- Samantha Rae Wyant of Avon Lake, Ohio
Order of Old Kivett
Awarded for exemplary representation in advocacy competitions while maintaining the highest ethical standards. This year’s recipients are:
- Carly Alexa Amendola of Charlotte
- Breann Beverly Burns of Pulaski, New York
- Carolyn Elizabeth Dun of Lafayette, Louisiana
- Charles Tyler Ellenberg of Stonewall
- Kara Geralyn Frances Goray of Raleigh
- Mary Katherine Harris of Fuquay-Varina
- Melvin Lamont Holland Jr. of Durham
- Carolina Margolis of Raleigh
- Rebeka Lynn Parent of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
- Hunter Grey Pethel of Greensboro
Summa Cum Laude is awarded for a degree earned with highest distinction. The recipients of this honor are:
- Aryana Ainolhayat
- MaryAnne Mulligan Hamilton
- Maren Hope Lowrey
Magna Cum Laude is awarded for a degree earned with great distinction. The recipients of this honor are:
- Victoria Gracie Allen
- Peyton Elizabeth Baer
- Angelika Nicole Ballas
- Lauren Katherine Cook
- Ryan Marie Cooke
- Tabitha Mandell Cooke
- Earl Hampton Crumpler III
- Robert Allan Havelka III
- Katherine Landin Johnston
- Justin B. Lockett
- Caroline Margolis
- Ryan Allen McCollum
- Miller Scott Moreau
- Rebeka Lynn Parent
- Mary Skye Robertson
- Miriam Denise Sheppard
Cum Laude is awarded for a degree earned with distinction. The recipients of this honor are:
- Carly Alexa Amendola
- Patrick Hubbard Archibald
- Claudia Barceló
- William Grey Barker
- Jamie David Blue
- Brandon Lewis Brower
- Manuel X. Colón
- Jonathan Scott Earnest
- Andrew James Franklin
- Ashwat Chandra Giri
- Brandy Renee Godwin
- Mary Katherine Harris
- Madison Creed Hildebrandt
- Devin L. Honbarger
- Marvin Adam Hudson
- Mason Beatty Meredith
- Andrew Reid Peterson
- Hunter Grey Pethel
- Vanna Lucille Prestage J
- Joseph Palmer Riddle IV
- Rachel Collins Samuelson
- Camille Jean Wrotenbery
- Alexander Luka Zupancic
Campbell Law congratulates each of you on your academic achievements!
ABOUT CAMPBELL LAW
Since its founding in 1976, Campbell Law has developed lawyers who possess moral conviction, social compassion, and professional competence, and who view the law as a calling to serve others. Among its accolades, the school has been recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) as having the nation’s top Professionalism Program and by the American Academy of Trial Lawyers for having the nation’s best Trial Advocacy Program. Campbell Law boasts more than 4,300 alumni, who make their home in nearly all 50 states and beyond. In 2021, Campbell Law celebrated 45 years of graduating legal leaders and 12 years of being located in a state-of-the-art facility in the heart of North Carolina’s Capital City.