On July 25, Cooley Law School’s Tampa Bay and Lansing campuses recognized students for their achievements during an honors convocation.
Hope Teachout from Cooley’s Lansing campus and Michelle Guzman from Cooley’s Tampa campus were each presented with the Leadership Achievement Award, which acknowledges those students who have consistently, comprehensively, and effectively provided leadership in a variety of capacities. The award is intended to be the culmination of the recipient’s participation in leadership activities at Cooley.
Teachout, from Battle Creek, Mich., received her Master of Architecture Degree from the University of Texas at Austin. While at Cooley, she has participated in several student organizations, including executive notes editor for Cooley Law Review, executive board member of Student Bar Association, Student Bar Association senator, vice president of the International Law Society, and member of the Organization of Women Law Students. During the honors convocation, Teachout was also honored by the Lansing Student Bar Association and received its SBA Distinguished Student Award, the Fitzgerald Award, and the Robert E. Krinock Award.
Guzman, from Wiamauma, Fla., earned a Master of Science degree in cybersecurity technology from the University of Maryland, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Ponitifical Catholic University, and an associate’s degree in applied science information technology from the Community College of Air Force. While at Cooley, she has served as Student Bar Association senator, Diversity and Inclusion chair, and Hispanic Legal Advocates president. Additionally, she has been involved in the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association, Mock Trial, Bay Area Legal Services, and Enterprising Latinas Inc. Guzman is also the recipient of the National Association of Women Lawyers' 2024 Outstanding Law Student Award.
Camille DeSumma, of Cooley’s Lansing campus, and Guzman received the Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award. This award is given to selected graduating students based on academic accomplishments, professionalism and ethics, leadership, extracurricular activities, and post-graduation plans. The recipients are selected by the Scholarship and Awards Committee of the Cooley Alumni Association. Recipients are presented a diploma frame from the law school.
DeSumma, who is from Sault Saint Marie, Ontario, received a Bachelor of Science degree in social science in Political Science and Law from the University of Ottawa, and a certificate in human resource management from Algonquin College. While at Cooley, she has been an Organization of Women Law Students parliamentarian, in the 2022 Leadership Class for Women Lawyers Association of Michigan, and a member of the Criminal Law Society, and Mock Trial. Additionally, DeSumma participated in the Cooley Law School Innocence Project Expungement Clinic, and received Certificate of Merit awards (highest score in class) in Torts I, Advanced Legal Methods, and Negotiation Skills.