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 JULY 2023

DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE

Dear Alumni and Friends,

I hope your summer is going well! Here at the Law School it has been full of celebration, fun, and excitement. The 50th Anniversary Gala and Class Reunion weekend, June 16-18, set the tone as we honored members of the law school’s first three graduating classes.  

Bill ArnoldWe also celebrated a number of incredible individuals and moments that made up the school’s first 50 years.

On the heels of the Gala, alumni and friends hit the links for the 32nd annual Cooley Golf Classic in support of the law school’s Student Scholarship Fund at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Michigan.

It was a beautiful day to gather for a round of golf and friendship.

Two days later, Florida graduates joined me, other faculty and staff, and President and Dean James McGrath for a networking reception at the Florida Bar Convention in Boca Raton, Florida.

Enjoy more details on these events, as well as a couple of alumni spotlights and stories below. As summer continues to unfold, I hope you find time to gather with friends and family for your own special celebrations.

Very truly, Bill Arnold, Director of Advancement and Alumni Relations

 
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JOYFUL cOOLEY 50TH ANNIVERSARY GALA 

On Saturday, June 17, graduates, faculty, staff, students, and friends of Cooley Law School gathered together for a culminating 50th anniversary during a day of activities including a Day Trip lecture with Professor Emeritus Otto Stockmeyer and an art tour with Professor Emeritus Bill Weiner, then the gala event that evening. All to honor those who believed in the vision and mission of its late founder the Hon. Thomas E. Brennan, and his beloved wife Polly. 

A memorable evening of reminiscing and laughter was had by all, including presenting Polly Brennan with an honorary Juris Doctor degree for her "tireless devotion to the success of not only the school but also of those students who sought to pursue their dreams of becoming an attorney."

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Read the news release. Watch the powerful 50th Anniversary video. Enjoy delightful photos captured in a photo album.
REMEMBERING 50 YEARS

DISTINGUISHED STUDENT AWARD 

On July 13 the Alumni Association presented the Distinguished Student Award to two graduating students. Melissa Bianchi from the Lansing campus and Zhanna Mendolia from the Tampa Bay campus.

Bianchi (top) is from Texas and is currently completing an externship in the Michigan Attorney General’s Office and was a spring 2023 fellow with the ABA Police Practices Consortium. She has also been involved with Law Review, 60+ Clinic, as well as a teaching assistant.

Mendolia (bottom) is originally from Stavropol, Russia where she earned a foreign law degree before immigrating to the United States. She is a Dean’s List student who is active in the Young Lawyers Division of the Florida Bar "Health and Wellness Olympics 2023,” and has intentions to open her own practice in the future. 
READ MORE
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32nd GOLF WINNERS
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All enjoyed the 32nd annual Cooley Classic Golf Benefit in support of the law school’s Student Scholarship Fund held on June 20 at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Michigan. The winning teams of the four-person scramble were DK Security (above) and our all-student Cooley team (below), who both finished 15 under par. 

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Mark your calendars to join next year's Cooley Classic on June 17, 2024. 
COOLEY GOLF CLASSIC

APPLY TO THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION BOARD
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After celebrating Cooley Law School's historical 50th Anniversary, consider sitting at the decision-making table to guide and shape the next 50 years.

The WMU-Cooley Law School Alumni Association Board will be appointing new members this fall. Those alumni who are interested in serving on the board and wish to be considered for a position are invited to complete an online application.  

All submitted applications will be reviewed by the Nominations Committee which will then recommend a slate of candidates for approval during the Association’s annual meeting in November. 
COMPLETE A BOARD APPLICATION

RECENT GRADUATE HIGHLIGHT

The International Legal Honor Society of Phi Delta Phi, founded in 1869, has named Cooley Law School graduate Daniel Cardwell its 2023 International Graduate of the Year. Law students from the United States, Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Poland compete for this recognition, which is the Society's highest award given annually to a single graduate. This award recognizes outstanding academic achievements, dedication to professional service, and overall merit. 
READ MORE
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COOLEY ALUMNI JUDGES

The strong tradition of Cooley alumni making a positive impact through service on the judicial bench continues. The Hon. Melissa Pope, 1999 Fead Class, was awarded the 2023 ABA Judith S. Kaye Award for Judicial Excellence.  The Judith S. Kaye Award recognizes service by judicial officers who demonstrate knowledge of domestic and sexual violence and exemplary leadership developing courtroom responses to these issues. Judge Pope is the chief judge of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Court.  
READ MORE

SUBMIT AN ALUMNI DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD NOMINATION

Nominations are now being accepted for the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

The award recognizes graduates who excel in supporting the mission of the Law School, who have made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations, and careers have honored the legacy of excellence of the Law School.

Alumni are invited to use the online nomination form below to nominate a fellow graduate you believe is deserving to be considered for the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.   
SUBMIT A NOMINATION

BENCHMARK 

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Have you had an opportunity to read the latest issue of Benchmark Alumni Magazine? If not, take a moment now to catch up on what some of your fellow graduates are doing, including June 2023's cover feature Sumayya Saleh.  Send us your stories and news to communications@cooley.edu no later than the first week in November to make it in the December 2023 issue of Benchmark Magazine.
BENCHMARK MAGAZINE

READ OFFICIAL BLOG 

Want to read more stories about your fellow graduates? We share your stories on the official law school blog page. 
READ THE BLOG

THE LATEST NEWS 

Keep up with all the news coming out of WMU-Cooley by visiting the law school's What's New page on our website! 
WHAT'S NEW

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