Brian Park receives annual Elon Law award for leadership and professionalism

Brian Park is the 2014 recipient of Elon Law’s highest honor for a graduating student, the David Gergen Award for Leadership and Professionalism.

Elon Law Professor Patricia Perkins presented the award at Commencement exercises for the Class of 2014, held May 24 Under the Oaks at Elon University. Perkins delivered the following statement recognizing Park for outstanding contributions to the law school and to the larger community.

The David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism recognizes a member of the graduating class whose activities represent the twin principles of leadership and professionalism. Nominators of this year’s recipient celebrated his industry, patience, and ‘infectious enthusiasm for helping others.’ One student described him as ‘the definitive embodiment of the Elon lawyer-leader,’ observing that he ‘has shown commitment to the community both within and beyond the law school’s walls.’

“Within the law school’s walls, he has served as the treasurer for Delta Theta Phi and Council for Christ, but as President of the Tax Law Interest Group his service was a bridge to the broader community. He worked with the AARP to coordinate a Tax Aide site where he and other students prepared tax returns and answered tax questions for elderly and low income community members. He invested his time in becoming a certified trainer so that he could grow student involvement by offering more accessible training directly to students at the law school. Under his leadership, volunteers at the Tax Aide site helped 636 people this spring. One volunteer wrote that this recipient ‘showed humility and appreciation for those volunteering by turning around and serving the volunteers.’  

Broadening his service and leadership role beyond the walls of the law school and the immediate community, this recipient served as a Lt. Governor for VITA – the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program – in the Law Student Division of the American Bar Association. He led other law schools in creating and expanding volunteer services to community members across four states.

“Closer to home, this recipient is the co-chair of the Tour of Historic Homes Committee and an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors for Preservation Greensboro, Inc., which is dedicated to the conservation of Greensboro’s architectural history. In addition, he is the Board of Directors co-Chair for the local non-profit, Architectural Salvage of Greensboro, which promotes the restoration, rehabilitation, and preservation of the city’s historic structures.

“Given his record, it is no surprise that another student described this year’s recipient as ‘a servant leader’ who ‘challenges everyone around him to be a better person’ and ‘autographs his work with excellence.’

“On behalf of the school of law and Elon University, it is a pleasure to present the David Gergen Award for Leadership & Professionalism to Brian Park.

Information about Commencement Exercises for Elon Law’s Class of 2014 is available here.