BLSA honors law students at banquet

By Michael Sewall, News Editor
March 6, 2007

In the midst of the FBI re-examining the Lloyd Gaines investigation, his nephew George was honored Saturday night by the Black Law Students Association.

A cocktail hour and silent auction started the night of excitement and honor for the MU School of Law Saturday at the Peachtree Catering and Banquet Center as students, professors and members of law firms gathered for the annual Lloyd L. Gaines Scholarship Event.

BLSA honored four students with scholarships and also recognized the achievements of three guests.

"We are gathered here today not only to celebrate the sacrifice that was made by Lloyd Gaines but also to recognize the fruits of his efforts and to preserve his visions by helping students pay for legal educations," BLSA President Fibbens Koranteng said.

Gaines was denied access to the school in 1936 because he was black. A scholarship was later named in his honor. Gaines also received an honorary law degree from the school last year.

The first person honored at the ceremony was Ellar Duff, who was given the Alumni Recognition Award for becoming the first black woman judge to come from the MU School of Law.

Gaines' nephew George Gaines was given the Special Honoree Award and spoke about the legacy his uncle left behind.

"He was a man of integrity," George said.

The National Bar Association Vice President Mavis Thompson introduced law professor Dale Whitman and spoke about his helpfulness when she was struggling through law school.

"When I was hungry, you fed me," Thompson said, quoting the Bible passage Matthew:25.

Whitman, who will leave MU after teaching in the law school for 25 years, was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award. Whitman was dean of the MU School of Law from 1982 to 1988.

"Perhaps the thing that stands out most in my life is the African-American students we've been blessed with over the years," Whitman said.

Whitman said he has seen many talented and hard-working students come through the law school throughout his tenure.

"We've had an extraordinary and remarkable group of people," he said. "People determined to make the world a better place and they have made the law school a better place."

Two $1,000 and two $500 scholarships were awarded to four students.

Members of BLSA participated in an essay competition and a faculty group scored the essays. The writers of the top four essays received the scholarships.

"The third and fourth ones are based on involvement in the association also," Koranteng said. "The first two are based purely on the essay."

Koranteng received one of the $1,000 scholarships, and Jeffrey McCarther took the other. The winners of the $500 scholarships are Jocelynne McAdory and Kristol Whatley.

The BLSA Executive Board members for the next academic year were announced after the scholarship presentation. Wil Comer was named president and Jwyanza Reed vice president.

"A banquet is always a good way to come together and celebrate," Deputy Chancellor Michael Middleton said.

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