Valparaiso University School of Law

Ilisha Dowell (2007) serves as Chief Justice of the Moot Court.

Karrah Miller (2008) serves as the current President of the Black Law Student’s Association.  Karrah was instrumental in bringing the Valparaiso community together for “The Race Factor” a discussion on racial issues brought on by racially motivated vandalism on the law school campus.  Finally, Karrah was the reciepient of the Diversity in Practice Law Student Award.

Robert Elliott (2008) serves as the Vice-President of the Black Law Student’s Association

Sameer Siddiqui (2007) received a  Diversity In Practice scholarship from the Indiana Lawyer.

Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis

Milton Turner (2007)serves as the Chief Justice of the school’s moot court.  Milton was also the recipient of a Diversity in Practice scholarship from the Indiana Lawyer.

Cristal Cabrera (2009)received a Diversity In Practice scholarship from the Indiana Lawyer.

Abhishek Dube’ (2006) received the Diversity In Practice Law Student Award.

[Permalink]

Chasity Thompson (1999-Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis) was a 2009 Diversity in Practice finalist in the Government category.

Ruth Rivera (2000-Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis) was a 2009 Diversity in Practice finalist in the Attorney category.

Rudolph (Rudy) Pyle III (1997-Indiana University Maurer School of Law) took the oath on October 16 as Madison County’s first African American judge.

[Permalink]

Abraham Lincoln said,  “Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.”  What does success look like to you?  You have to know the answer to this question so that you will not get sidetracked.  Knowing that answer will help you stay the course.  Success for one person may not equal success for another.  This is important to remember as you manuever through law school and life in general.  Staying true to your goals and dreams will save you the heartache and pain of trying to walk a course that is not authentically your own.  Many times we second-guess ourselves after seeing and hearing what other people have done or are doing.  At times like this, it is important to “reel it in” and remember that we cannot reach our own goals trying to follow someone else’s road map.  Success means different things to different people.  Be sure you know and unwaveringly hold on to what it means to you.

From my heart to yours-Robyn

[Permalink]

The Chief Justice will deliver his annual State of the Judiciary on Wednesday January 20th at 2pm.  Please call or email me if you plan to attend so that we will save adequate space.

[Permalink]

Jana is no stranger to ICLEO.  She was a member of the very first class of Indiana CLEO Fellows in 1997.  After graduating from IU School of Law -Indianapolis, she joined the staff of the Division of State Court Administration and served as CLEO program coordinator for six years .  Even after moving on to new ventures, Jana continues to remain connected to the students in the CLEO program.  Her smiling face is often found in the crowd offering support at various events and functions.  Her committment to the program is evident in her zeal to help lead interested students to the program.  Below is an excerpt from an interview with Jana:

  Using only one word, name something significant about your life today.

Adventurous

What book has influenced you greatly? How?

 The Shack by William Young, this is a non-fiction book that helped me think about my God in a different light.  A light that just showed me how much deeper God’s love is for me than I ever really grasped or imagined.  I read this book in the midst of a soul searching period for me and it did not disappoint.

 If you had a “theme song” that played whenever you walk into a room full of people, what would it be?

There’s Hope by India.Arie.

 What is one thing about you people would be surprised to learn?

 That I was paralyzed by fear in making a decision to practice law for 8 years fueled by  two bad experiences in law school.  The first occurred during my first year of law school when I was participating in Moot Court with Terry Tolliver (ICLEO ’97 and IU-Indianapolis Alum ’00) and I was criticized not for my oratory skills but my size and the second during my last year of law school in Trial Practice while I was conducting a trial and felt out of my element after suffering a severely sprained ankle mere hours before the trial.

[Permalink]

Christopher “Edwin” Hopkins-Gillespe is hard at work at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.  He is a member of the Black Law Student’s Association, participates in the Tenant Assisatnce Project and is the Academic Chair of Phi Alpha Delta.  He is a born leader with an infectious smile whose leadership skills have been honed over the years through participation in various clubs and organizations.  Below is an excerpt from an interview with Edwin:

If you were to be on a reality TV show which one would you be on and why?

I would love to be on Survivor because there is so much strategy and skill involved with the game.  Not only do you have to be physically fit, but you also have to be able to use your social skills to get others to trust you.  I think that I would probably excel at this reality TV show over all others.

 Where would you like to retire and why?

I do not think that I will ever officially retire.  I plan to always work in some way until I am unable.  I would love to be somewhere tropical in my old age.  I love warm weather and when I get older I will probably not want to shovel snow!

Name 3 things you think will become obsolete in ten years.

1.      Desktop Computers

2.      Printed Books (the old ones will still be around but new ones will just be e-books that you can read on an e-reader)

3.      Retail Video Stores

What book has influenced you greatly? How?

“Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi.  The book contains a lot of common sense about networking and encouraging us to get out of our comfort zone and build relationships with people.

 

[Permalink]

Busy People Beware….

               We live in a society where people have become slaves to their schedules.  Everyone is so busy; even children have schedules and social calendars!  People have severe tunnel vision.  We get so wrapped up in phones, laptops, and Ipods.  I suppose it is simply a sign of the times.  My challenge to you is to be conscious of the world and the people around you.  Don’t become so involved in scratching things off of your list of things to do that you fail to see people.  I was on the elevator last week with an attorney who was consumed by his phone.  When the doors opened on his floor, he darted out of the elevator almost plowing down the courier who was waiting to enter.  The courier stepped aside and the lawyer never even looked up.  The courier entered the elevator, chuckled and said, “He’s one busy lawyer!”  I was saddened by that exchange on so many levels.  This man’s personal agenda was so important that another person was virtually invisible.  Again, I challenge you to be sure you aren’t so self-absorbed that you don’t see other people.   Enjoy your family and friends; they make life worth living!  Let’s all heed Greek philosopher Socrates’ words, “beware of the barrenness of a busy life.”

Robyn

[Permalink]

Dedicated and focused are two great adjectives to describe Tony Pearson.  Tony stood out to me even before he was selected as a CLEO Fellow.  His program application contained a cover page with a poem by R.L. Sharpe, entitled A Bag of Tools.  It set him aside from the other applications and caused the committee to take a closer look at him.  As a law student, he has continued to work towards standing out.  Tony is the current president of BLSA at IU-Indianapolis.  He successfully juggles his student activities with work, school and family.  Below is an excerpt from an interview with Tony:   

What are some of your tried and true practices for succeeding as a law student?  I would say that it is important to have a sound understanding of where you would like to go with your law degree.  This will inform you of the classes you would like to take that suit your interests or you feel will develop certain competencies  that will aid you in your progress toward you goal.  When it comes to classes and exams I believe that understanding the idiosyncrasies of your professors will allow you to give them what they want to see on an exam. 

 Who or what inspires/motivates you?  Everything inspires me!  I am inspired by my wife, my daughter and my entire family.  I am inspired by the vast amount of opportunities that I see before me.  I am inspired by the talent’s that I’ve been blessed with and how law school is contributing to my bag of tools.  I am inspired by people and the way that I may be able serve them after this period of incubation within law school.

What is your best personal characteristic?  My best personal characteristic is my mental fortitude.  I never give up.  I never back down.  Since birth, my father has instilled in me that there are many people with various talents separated only by their will and sense of urgency to be great.  I believe that I am where I am today because of God’s grace, but also because I am tough enough to pick myself up more times than I am been knocked down. 

What is your fondest Summer Institute memory?  We received a lecture by Professor Gurule on the importance of being of not being mediore and the respect and prestige associated with the profession we were about to enter.  He set the tone for the way I view myself and the contributions I intend to make within this profession.

What’s an interesting fact about you that few people know?  I love artistic expression.  I enjoy writing poetry and singing.  My poetry is decent, but my singing should be outlawed!

[Permalink]

Ruth Rivera is a focused, goal-driven go getter.  She is currently an associate with Plews, Shadley Racher and Braun, LLP, where her primary focus is complex litigation.  She is an active member of the Indiana State Bar Association.  Ruth has chaired the Association’s Latino Affairs Committee since 2006.  She is also a member of both the Indianapolis Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  Ruth was honored by the Indiana  Lawyer in 2008 as one of their Up and Coming Lawyers.  She was also recognized by the Indiana University School of Law-Indianapolis as the 2009 Early Career Acheivement Award reciepient.   Here is an excerpt from an interview with Ruth: 

 What advice would you give to current CLEO Fellows regarding law school and the legal profession?  Find those opportunities that are good for you and make the most of them, and do not allow circumstances to singlehandedly determine the kind of lawyer you become.

What’s your favorite quote?  “If you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you’ve always got.”

Choose a word that best describes your life up to this moment.  Why did you choose this word?  Rich because most of my life experiences have been gifted with a wealth of intensity, passion, depth, and complications resulting in finding treasures like simplicity, patience, and true enjoyment. 

What is your concept of a fruitful day?  Checking off things on my “to do/pending” list.

If you had to move out of the country, what country would you move to and why?  Puerto Rico—there’s no place like home.

Something interesting people might not know about me is?  I love sports— boxing, swimming, baseball, basketball, football, soccer, track/field.

What’s your biggest pet peeve?  Unnecessary, uncontrolled, senseless chaos or messes.

 If a movie was being made of your life and you could choose the actor/actress to play you, who would you choose and why?  I must confess that this one stumped me.  But the answer is Bette Midler.  According to my daughter, because Bette is a strong but spunky woman that laughs a lot and make others laugh with her, and she can play a character in a dramatic-comedy.

 

 

[Permalink]

Shontrai Irving
Indiana CLEO Class of 1998

Shontrai is no stranger to hard work. He graduated from Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington in 2003. That same year, he received a master’s degree in criminal justice. He was promoted to the felony division of the Lake County prosecutor’s office fifteen months after he began working there as a deputy prosecutor. Shontrai is currently employed as an attorney with State Farm Litigation Counsel.

Shontrai has a strong presence in the community as indicated through his many volunteer endeavors. He works with Habitat for Humanity, Toys for Tots, and the Boys and Girls Club. His passion for helping those in need led him to welcome four foster children into his home. Shontrai’s good deeds are not unnoticed. He was featured in the May 2nd edition of the Indiana Lawyer as and Up and Coming Lawyer for 2007. Additionally, he was named Indiana’s Foster Parent of the Year for 2007.  Finally, Shontrai was featured in the December 2008 issue of Res Gestae in the President’s Perspective.

Shontrai is truly grateful for the experience CLEO provided. It gave him confidence to believe that he could succeed in law school and offered him support as he journeyed down that path. He created relationships with other fellows that continue today. According to Shontrai, “The program is much more than the financial benefit. It is a tool to developing successful attorneys for the state of Indiana.”

What might surprise people about me? People would be surprised to know that my biggest achievement is not my professional accomplishments, but being a foster dad.

My Favorite Song: Make It Happen by Mariah Carey

My Favorite Book: I have two; The Bible and Monica: From Fear to Victory

My Dream Vacation: Hawaii

[Permalink]

Tags: Alumni, Indiana University School of Law-Bloomington

Next Page →

• 



• Search

• Categories

  • Alumni Accolades & Accomplishments
  • Alumni Spotlight
  • Reminders
  • Student Accolades & Accomplishments
  • Student Spotlight
  • Think On This….
  • Uncategorized

• Archives

  • November 30, 2009–December 6, 2009
  • November 2, 2009–November 8, 2009
  • February 9, 2009–February 15, 2009

• Blogroll

About




The CLEO Blog is a collection of posts and updates about the Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity. CLEO is part of The Indiana Supreme Court.