Concord Law School Celebrates Graduation of 47 Students and Recognizes Several Students for Academic Achievement
01 August 2015 - 8:03PM
Business Wire
Dr. Peter Smith Delivers Keynote
Address
Concord Law School of Kaplan University, the nation’s first
fully-online law school, held its 24th graduation today at the
Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. The graduating class
included 20 graduates of the Juris Doctor program and 27 graduates
of the Executive Juris Doctor program. Concord Law School Dean
Larry David conferred the degrees. Concord University Alumni were
also in attendance.
In his keynote address, Dr. Smith, former Vermont State Senator,
Vermont Lieutenant Governor and Founding President of three higher
education institutions including the Community College of Vermont,
California State University and the Open College at Kaplan
University (OC@KU), discussed the varied paths the graduates will
embark on with their degrees.
“Every graduate should not allow this ceremony to mark the end
of their education and growth as an individual,” Smith told the
audience. “You must continually seek opportunities to improve
yourselves and your communities. Some laws are rigid and others are
up for interpretation. Approach life and the practice of law with
the same analytical eye you used reading law school textbooks these
past few years. Don’t be afraid to question the status quo and
offer a bold idea because that is how progress is made.”
Dr. Smith, who also represented Vermont in the United States
House of Representatives, has been an advocate for continued
education, adult learners and work readiness programs since the
beginning of his career, which spans the country and includes
positions abroad. He also served as Dean of the Graduate School of
Education at George Washington University and Assistant Director
General for Education at the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization in Paris, France. Additionally, Dr. Smith
was a member of the founding board of the Council for the
Assessment of Experiential Learning and has authored several books
on education.
Several students were recognized for outstanding achievement at
the ceremony. Award winners included Michelle Brooker (of La
Quinta, CA), Gene Cisewski (of Tomah, WI) and Lisa Jane Walton (of
Walterville, OR), who received the Kaplan Award for Legal Services.
The Executive Juris Doctor Award for Academic Excellence was
awarded to Svetlana Hahn (of Sandusky, OH) and Rick Stone (of
Vernon, AK). Raad Al-Shaikh (of Auburn, CA) received the Jack R.
Goetz Award for Academic Excellence, which recognizes the Juris
Doctor graduate who achieved the highest cumulative grade point
average. Finally, the Sue Lane Award, honoring one student from the
graduating class who embodies a strong work ethic, compassionate
nature and service to the community, was also presented to Lisa
Jane Walton.
About Concord Law School
Concord Law School is the nation's first fully online law
school. Since opening its virtual doors in 1998, Concord has
educated more than 1,800 graduates who have obtained their Juris
Doctor (JD) or Executive Juris DoctorSM (EJD) degree. Concord
is accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance
Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), a nationally recognized
accrediting agency.
Concord Law School of Kaplan University is part of Kaplan Higher
Education LLC and Kaplan, Inc., which serves over 1.2 million
students globally each year through its array of higher education,
test preparation, professional education, English-language
training, university preparation, and K-12 offerings to
individuals, institutions, and businesses. Kaplan has operations in
over 30 countries, employs more than 22,000 full- and part-time
professionals, and maintains relationships and partnerships with
more than 1,000 school districts, colleges, and universities, and
over 2,600 corporations and businesses. Kaplan is a subsidiary of
Graham Holdings Company (NYSE: GHC) and its largest division. For
more information, please visit, www.kaplan.com.
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For Concord Law SchoolStephen WhiteMobile:
954-684-9680stwhite@kaplan.edu