More than 300 law students, family members and friends gathered at Elon University School of Law on October 2 for the school's third annual Family and Friends Day. A slideshow from the day's events is included with this report.
The event, produced by the Student Bar Association in partnership with the law school, introduces family members and friends of students to the law school through panel discussions, mock classes, and more.
Guests were greeted at a morning reception by Daniel Lyon, president of Elon Law’s Student Bar Association, who thanked parents, relatives, and friends for supporting Elon Law students.
“As a law student, I understand all of the sacrifices personally, professionally, and financially that so many members of my family and my close friends have made for me, and so this is our way of saying thank you,” Lyon said.
Megan Connole, a member of the Class of 2012, said the event helps families learn about the law school experience while building ties among the Elon Law community.
“It gives families the opportunity to see the law school, to meet our professors, and to see why we love it here,” Connole said. “It brings families together who normally wouldn’t be able to meet each other.”
Ashley Poling, a member of the Class of 2013, said it was important to be able to share with her parents some of the unique aspects of the Elon Law experience.
“It means so much to be able to share this incredibly unique experience with the people that I care the most about in my life,” Poling said. “I know that my parents had a genuine glimpse into the life of a 1L through the sessions, and I feel that they are now more readily able to identify with the law school experience as a whole. What made Family & Friends Day particularly unique to me was the sense of community spirit that was exhibited throughout the day. It was clear to me from the first speakers we heard in the morning that Elon University is truly a school that does everything whole heartedly. I am so proud to be a part of the evolving traditions of Elon Law, and I am looking forward to giving back to this unique community.”
George R. Johnson, Jr., dean and professor of law, welcomed family members to Elon, noting that the university had great ambitions for the success of the school and its graduates.
“We want to make them into not just fine lawyers, not just excellent lawyers, but we also want to inspire them to be great citizens and great community leaders, and that is part of the ethos of Elon University and Elon law school,” Johnson said.
Introducing Dr. Earl Danieley, president emeritus of Elon University, for the event’s keynote address, Johnson said Danieley is a legend at the university.
“He has given so much of his life to Elon University, but even more important than that, he embodies so much of the spirit of this place, so much of the values of Elon University,” Johnson said.
Danieley provided law students, family members and friends with a brief history of the university.
“I have come to believe that there is no more remarkable story in the history of American higher education than the history of the growth and development of Elon University,” Danieley said.
Defending that remark, Danieley noted a number of accolades the university has received in recent years, including its selection by U.S. News & World Report as the number one school to watch and second ranked school among 118 Southern universities.
Johnson acknowledged in his remarks the following members of the Family and Friends Committee of the Student Bar Association for organizing the day’s events: Megan Connole, Janison Dillon, Jennifer Hoverstadt, Raymond Large, Daniel Lyon, Ashley Poling , Julie Stainback, James Stanton, and Matthew White.
After the morning reception, family and friends participated in mock law classes and panel discussions exploring the law school experience and professional development programs for careers in the law. Elon Law faculty and staff leading the day’s forums included: Catherine Dunham, associate dean for academic affairs and professor of law; Scott Gaylord, associate professor of law; Faith Rivers James, associate professor of law, Darlene McDowell, assistant director of career services, Michael Rich, associate professor of law, and S. Christian Smith, assistant dean for career services.
The event also included a silent auction to raise money for student scholarships and a food drive for Greensboro Urban Ministries.
Click on the E-Cast link to the right of this article to view a slideshow from the day’s events.