The University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law celebrated the Class of 2024’s graduation the week of May 13-17.
This year, the traditional law school Hooding Ceremony at the Hippodrome Theatre also served as graduates’ official University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB), commencement. In lieu of a separate ceremony, UMB President Bruce Jarrell was in attendance to confer degrees on the JD, LLM, and MSL candidates before they walked the stage to be hooded by a faculty member.
Attendees enjoyed a keynote address from the Hon. Brendan Hurson ’05, a district judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. In his address, Judge Hurson encouraged students to have hope in the face of this difficult and challenging moment in history. “As you join this line of proud graduates, hold your head up and march forward,” he told the graduates. “March all over the world. And always aspire to use that degree to restore faith in our democracy.”
Judge Hurson graduated from Maryland Carey Law Order of the Coif and was a highly engaged student. He served on the Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class, competed on the National Trial Team, and advocated for his peers as president of the Student Bar Association. Since graduating in 2005, he has returned to the law school to teach Criminal Procedure and Written and Oral Advocacy.
The ceremony’s student speakers were day program class president, Rebecca Wells, and evening division president, Frederick Gerriets, who mused on their law school experiences and provided inspiration for their peers.
Members of the high-achieving Class of 2024 were honored the previous day in Maryland Carey Law’s annual Recognition Ceremony where graduation prizes, Latin Honors, and Order of the Coif inductees were announced.
More intimate celebrations throughout the week recognized individuals who graduated in specialty areas and programs, including Business Law, Criminal Law, Cybersecurity and Crisis Management, Dispute Resolution, Environmental Law, Immigration Law, Intellectual Property, International and Comparative Law, Law & Health Care, and Women, Leadership & Equality.
To welcome the Class of 2024 to the alumni community, the Maryland Carey Law School Club (MCLSC), comprising philanthropic leaders, hosted a champagne toast for the class earlier in the week. The MCLSC committee co-chairs are Letam Duson ’13, Barry Herman ’99, Joanne Pollak ’76, and Xochitl Strohbehn ’09.
Student Bar Association (SBA) President Nell Piper ’24 addressed the crowd.
“If you are a part of the Maryland Carey Law community, you’ll know what I’m talking about when I say that this community is truly special,” said Piper. “It is special because of the unique and enduring collegiality among students, its outstanding administration, faculty and staff, and its dedicated alumni.”
As SBA’s leader, Piper spearheaded the Carey Forward campaign through which the Class of 2024 generously donated more than $1,600 in support of a variety of programs and funds at the law school.
Also speaking to the graduates was Board of Visitors Chair Tamika Tremaglio ’95 who expressed gratitude to the Class of 2024 and reflected on the benefits of staying deeply connected to her alma mater.
Finally, Maryland Carey Law Dean Renée Hutchins offered the toast, telling graduates, “From the moment you started here you became part of the incredible Maryland Carey Law community. We applaud your accomplishments; we are excited for everything you are about to achieve; and we hope you stay engaged with this institution as alumni. Cheers!”