South Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 1, Ed. 1, August, 2002 Page: 1 of 10
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Inside:
Are You at Risk. p. 3-5,11
Volume XXXm, Number I
VERlt^XV
Dear Justine p. 9
STCL Outtakes p. 11
August 2002
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Annotations
The Student Newspaper of South Texas College of Law
By
Natherral
Washing-
ton
Editor-in-
Chief
Thanks for the Privilege:
Class of 2002 Says Goodbye
In true Texas form,
thousands of well-wish-
ers and proud parents
packed the general assem-
bly room of the George R.
Brown convention center
to congratulate and ad-
mire the South Texas Col-
lege of Law class of
2002. Amazingly, a
graduating class of ap-
proximately 260 students
(including July graduates)
filled each of the general
assembly's 3,000 seats
with family and friends.
As evidenced by the
sea of cameras, video re-
corders, noisemakers and
banners, an air of pride,
joy and in many cases re-
lief, permeated the anx-
ious crowd. With the fa-
miliar, but never outdated,
tune of Pump and Cir-
cumstance playing in the
background, 260 future
lawyers, cloaked in tradi-
tional cap and gown,
emerged from behind a
privacy curtain to be
greeted by thunderous,
but warm applause. Not
surprisingly, as they
shuffled toward their
seats, many graduates
searched eagerly to locate
familiar faces in the ca-
pacity crowd. Finally,
after three, and in many
cases four years, of toil
and strain, graduation had
arrived!
The day's pageantry
began with the posting of
colors by the Houston
Police Department, which
carried increased senti-
mental value in the post
September 11th climate.
Next, Professor Helen
Jenkins took the stage
and wowed the attendees
with a spirited, yet elegant
rendition of the National
Anthem. After the an-
them, Dean Read wel-
comed the crowd in a
rather un-lawyerly like
manner - briefly! David
Swick, outgoing SBA
President, added humor
to the occasion by thank-
ing everyone for coming
out to the gun show (a ref-
erence to the gun show
being held directly below
the general assembly).
Sparks Veasey, III, class
valedictorian, summed up
the introductions with a
potent one-liner for the
administration and his
classmates. "Thanks for
the privilege."
After the introduc-
tions, United States Sena-
tor Kay Bailey
Hutchison, one of the
100 Most Influential
Texas Women of the Cen-
tury, according to Ladies
Home Journal, took cen-
ter stage. Senator
Hutchison provided the
graduates with powerful
advise, "be open to op-
tions," "be available," "be
creative," and "maintain
your ethics." As Senator
Hutchison surrendered
the podium, the gradu-
ates thanked her with a
sincere ovation.
Roughly half an hour
into the Pump and Cir-
cumstance, speeches,
and lawyer jokes, 260
future lawyers were
ready to cross the stage.
One by one they piled
onto the stage. Some
pumped their fists in
joy. Others, perhaps an-
ticipating the bar exam
or student loan pay-
ments, were more sub-
dued.
'f
■ ■
i. •
THAT WAS A GREAT SPEECH!- Dean Frank Read speaks with U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Huchinson after the May 2002
Commencement ceremony
Those cheering their fa-
vorite future lawyer, how-
ever, were less reserved.
Within minutes, the cheer-
o-meter was working over-
time. Each set of family and
friends seemed to cheer a
little louder than the group
before. The unofficial con-
test was eventually reduced
to a three-way race between
the family and friends of
Dennis Ramirez, Brady
Ortega, and David Swick.
Ultimately, the Swick del-
egation, supported by a band
of boisterous fraternity
Photo courtesy of Instructional Technology
brothers, proved too pow-
erful for their closest com-
petitor.
In a more solemn ex-
change, Senator Hutchison
personally hooded Ser-
geant Johnny Almon, Jr. In
the wake of the September
11th terrorists' attacks,
Almon, a reservist in the
United States Air Force
was called to active duty,
forcing him to delay his
graduation, which had been
scheduled for December
2001. True to the STCL
spirit, Almon refused to
quit. Instead he com-
muted from an Air Force
Base in San Antonio to
Houston to complete his
final semester.
Finally, after a shock-
ingly short hour, it was
over. Each graduate had
been hooded. Each gradu-
ate had shaken hands with
the dean. Each graduate
had finally added his or
her name to the roll along-
side 10,000 other South
Texas lawyers. Finally,
260 people with the cour-
age, strength, and good
fortune to see a tough
job through to comple-
tion had reached the
light at the end of the
tunnel. Collectively,
they bid South Texas
farewell, thanking all
present for the privi-
lege.
ITWASTHEBESrr OF TIMES
- 2002 STCL grads gather for one
last group picture. Rest assured,
the next time you see this many
lawyers in one place, there prob-
ably will not be so many smiles.
Photo by Shanna Ciarrlla
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Washington, Natherral J. South Texas College of Law Annotations (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 33, No. 1, Ed. 1, August, 2002, newspaper, August 2002; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth144551/m1/1/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting South Texas College of Law.