(presidential classical music) ("Pomp and Circumstance" music) - Graduates, families and friends.

It is my distinct honor and privilege to welcome all of you to the 2022 Commencement of the MSU College of Law in this, our 131st year of continuous operation.

This is our 23rd Commencement ceremony on the MSU campus.

Today, we welcome our 2022 JD, LLM, and MJ graduates to MSU Law alumni ranks.

(audience applauding) And we thank all of you who help them to reach this day.

We do live in unusual times, but your faith in the future brings us hope today and tomorrow.

This campus is located on the traditional homelands of the ancestral, traditional and contemporary lands of the Anashi Baui Fires, Confederacy of Ojibwe, Adowa, and Potawatomi people.

In particular, the university resides on land seeded in the 1819 Treaty of Saginaw.

We recognize, support and advocate for the sovereignty of Michigan's 12 federally recognized Indian nations, for historic indigenous communities in Michigan, for indigenous individuals and communities who live here now.

And for those who are forcibly removed from their homelands.

By offering this land acknowledgement, we affirm indigenous sovereignty and will work to hold Michigan State University, more accountable to the needs of American Indian, and indigenous people.

We will now hear selections from the drumming group, Black Elk.

The first song they will be performing is known as "Blue house Song."

(playing drums) (traditional Indian chanting) (audience applauding) The second song is a victory song known as the "Kenny Merick Memorial Song," and it is about a war and coming out with a victory.

And I know that all of our graduates can relate to that message.

(playing drums) (traditional Native chanting) (audience applauding) Thank you to Black Elk.

And now our National Anthem will be led by a very talented member of our graduating class, Lucille Esbach.

Where's the flag?

♪ Oh say, can you see by the dawn's early light ♪ ♪ What so proudly we hail at the twilight's last gleaming ♪ ♪ Whose broad stripes and bright stars ♪ ♪ Through the perilous fight ♪ ♪ O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming ♪ ♪ And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ ♪ Oh, say does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave ♪ ♪ O'er the land of the free, and the home of the brave ♪ (audience cheering) - [Note Speaker] Please remain standing.

Thank you, Lucille.

Let us please observe a moment of silence for our friends, family, and fellow citizens who have struggled, sickened and died during these pandemics.

Thank you.

I'd like to begin our ceremony by recognizing the College of Law community.

I will start with the faculty, who have dedicated their professional lives to the education of our students, and who helped to make this stay special.

They have been our graduates, constant, intellectual and professional guides and mentors.

Our faculty is remarkably accomplished.

Their teaching is rigorous, their scholarship distinguished.

They are also committed to professional and public service and serve as role models for our students.

As faculty, we have been honored to have you as our students.

In time, your faculty will become your colleagues, your friends, and we are confident like family who eagerly await news of your journeys.

Will the members of the faculty on stage today please stand and be recognized.

(audience applauding) We are privileged to have a representative from the MSU Board of Trustees, trustee, Renee Jefferson.

Trustee Jefferson is a former professor of the College of Law and the Doherty Professor of Ethics at the university of Houston Law Center.

We are also honored to have senior associate Provost, Thomas Jeisko, who oversaw the integration of the College of Law into the university.

Thank you for being with us today.

(audience applauding) Also on stage are our keynote speaker for today.

The honorable justice Elizabeth Clement of the Michigan Supreme Court, and a 2002 graduate of the College of Law.

(audience applauding) Also joining me are the administrators of the college, please stand.

(audience applauding) We also have proud representatives of the class of 2022.

Please stand.

(audience applauding) Thank you, you may be seated.

I am pleased to say a few words to this amazing graduating class.

I have known them for less than a year, but I am in awe of your resilience and your accomplishments.

You have succeeded despite amazing odds.

Like the rest of the world, you were catapulted into a remote environment.

Something we could have never predicted.

From March, 2020 through August, 2021, you experienced your legal education without the usual day-to-day, face-to-face contact with your colleagues and the law school community, we prized that in legal education, but we miss that.

And when we returned to face-to-face instruction in 2021, our circumstances were still constrained.

We were unable to have the kind of social, and community events that are part and parcel of a rich legal education.

Nonetheless, you not only survived, but you thrived, and you're on your way to amazing professional success.

You have jobs in 17 states, and you are employed in private law firms, large and small.

One law firm hired five of you.

You are going to national banks and accounting firms.

One is going to a certain insurance company, and with an MSU College of Law graduate, their clients will really be in good hands.

You will also work in public service.

Your positions include those in the United States Department of Justice honors program, the Executive Office of Immigration Review, and the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice.

You will also work at district attorney and public defender offices across Michigan and the United States.

Four of you will be judicial clerks on the Michigan State Supreme Court, and the Michigan Court of Appeals.

You will be involved in environmental law, immigration law, and legal services for the poor.

We are so proud of you.

Do remember that it is a privilege and an honor to serve as a member of the legal profession.

Remember that you have an obligation to be the best that you can be in that role, as well as an obligation of pro bono service to your community.

You came to us as outstanding individuals, and we have done our best to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities that will come.

Do embrace that.

But don't forget that we need your involvement as alums to be the best that we can be as a college of law.

With you as a part of the MSU College of Law community, the best is yet to come from Michigan State University College of Law.

It is now my pleasure to introduce MSU trustee, Renee Jefferson, to welcome our graduates to the ranks of MSU Law alumni.

(audience applauding) - Thank you, Dean Green.

On behalf of the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, I welcome graduates and your family, and your friends who join us today.

Under the Michigan Constitution, the Board of Trustees is the governing body of the university, by whose authority your degree is awarded today.

Today's ceremony represents the culmination of your academic achievement.

The degree that you have earned acknowledges your success and importantly, it honors those who have encouraged you and supported you along the way.

Our wish is that you will use your knowledge and understanding to improve the quality of life for your community to advance the common good and to pursue justice.

Our faculty, administrators, and trustees are proud of you.

Thank you for allowing us to share this very special time with you and congratulations.

(audience applauding) - It is now my pleasure to introduce Senior Associate Provost, Thomas Steitzgo to offer remarks on our graduate's bright future.

(audience applauding) - Thank you.

It's a pleasure and an honor to join you all today, as we are finally getting together to celebrate the academic accomplishments of these MSU College of Law graduates.

Much like your college and its storied history, each of you have come a long way.

You have been forward thinking as you have expanded your horizons, and because of that, you have a bright, bright future.

Each of you will forever be a part of the College of Law and forever a part of Michigan State University, one of the nation's leading research institutions.

Both of which are committed to fostering academic excellence, and making transformative impact, with Michigan State University being one of the first land grant universities, and with the College of Law with its roots originally in Detroit.

As you all know, by this point, the strength and savvy, along with the caliber and capacities of the faculty, the staff and fellow students you have learned from and with here at MSU, are what make our collective future, and your individual future so bright.

You're continuing the legacy of excellence, extending your knowledge in ways that will advance the greater good and combat the world's most pressing problems.

Each of you is now an ambassador of MSU and the College of Law, representing our mission, values, and goals in the years to come.

I have no doubt that your education here at MSU has prepared you well for both the opportunities, and the challenges you are facing, and those that lie ahead.

So to have your experiences navigating the uncertainty and disruptions imposed by the pandemic, It is my hope that the resilience that you have built and the ways you have weathered decisions that were not of your own making, become strengths of character that you carry with you long into the future.

The world needs you, and the skills that you have acquired during the course of study here at the College of Law and MSU, and we are looking forward to seeing your many accomplishments in the future.

Your impressive scholarly achievements culminate today in the celebration of the conferral of a degree, along with the conferral of our great faith, our hope and our pride in what you will now do with your knowledge and capabilities.

We are sure of our confidence in your abilities as we honor your scholarly success on this auspicious day, you're in-person graduation from Michigan State University College of Law, congratulations.

(audience applauding) - When Michigan State Supreme Court Justice, Elizabeth Clement spoke to a group of our incoming students in the spring of 2019, she emphasized the centrality of active listening, and the need to communicate across differences.

"I have a lot to say," Justice Clement told her audience.

"I have a lot of ideas, but it's important for me "to really listen to the voices "of the people I'm working with, "so they know they've been heard."

And some of those students are here today.

They are fortunate to have both commenced and concluded their law school journeys, with wise words from Justice Clement.

Justice Clement is a member of MSU's law class of 2002.

She attended lectures in the same 44 classrooms as our graduates here today, and had a handful of the same faculty members.

And she was a fierce court competitor, as many of you are.

Her impressive career took her into private practice where she was a partner at Clement Law, and then to the Michigan Senate, where she served as legal counsel and was responsible for the state Senate advice and consent process, including providing reports and recommendations on appointees.

She went on to serve as chief legal counsel in the executive branch before governor Rick Snyder appointed her to the Michigan Supreme Court in 2017.

She is the court co-liaison to the state court Administrative Office of Child Welfare Services, and represents the court on the governor's Juvenile Justice Task Force.

She also serves as the liaison to the problem-solving courts in the state of Michigan.

Justice Clement, I thank you for the judicial insight and advocacy that you exercise on behalf of Michigan's diverse communities.

Your career is a powerful example to our graduates, and I hope that they are inspired to take up public service at some point in their illustrious careers, as you have done.

And with that, I welcome Justice Clement to the podium.

(audience applauding) - Good morning, class of 2022.

I cannot express how excited I am to have been invited to be your commencement speaker this year.

When I was sitting in your spot, I never dreamed that my Alma mater would ask me to come back 20 years after graduating and address a future class.

That's because when I was sitting where you all are today, I was scared out of my mind about the future and what my career would look like.

Maybe some of you are not feeling that way, and that's okay.

I'm not here to instill fear and doubt.

I'm here to tell you that if you're feeling nervous, excited, unsure, overwhelmed, or scared, that's okay.

It's understandable, and you are not alone.

You are preparing to embark on an incredible journey, and I want to share my reflections and the things I wish I had known when I was sitting where you are.

When Dean Green asked me to be the commencement speaker, my thoughts immediately went to a day this past August.

After a few grueling days of moving our oldest daughter into her freshman dorm, we attended the matriculation ceremony at her new college.

As the president spoke to the freshman class and their parents, she related that the experience these new college students were embarking on and the college they were becoming a part of was analogous to a tree.

It was one of those speeches that made us feel excited about where our daughter would be spending the next four years of her life.

But it was also a metaphor that resonated with me.

For me, a tree symbolizes life and growth, and I began reflecting on my own life and experiences through this lens.

As I look out at all of you, I see all different types of young trees.

Before you even arrived at MSU Law, you had your roots, a trunk, and maybe a few branches.

Your roots help collect the nutrients that you need to create stability and anchor your tree.

Your roots are the beginning that make you unique and one of a kind, your family, history, culture, customs and friends.

Your roots help keep you grounded.

When the roots are deep, there is no reason to fear the wind.

The tree trunk is the core of the tree and supports the structure, offers protection, and provides the connection for the roots and the rest of the tree.

Your trunk started forming long ago, and was developed by your education, maybe sports or music, your interests, your love of learning, your curiosity, your past experiences, the fun, exciting, happy, as well as the sad, heartbreaking, or traumatic also make up your core.

Your trunk grew stronger during law school, as you challenged yourself, were uncomfortable, learned to think and analyze and question in a very specialized way.

Law school is hard enough, and then you persevered and showed the depth of your strength and resilience by learning to become lawyers during a pandemic.

And you didn't just survive or endure law school during a pandemic, you thrived.

You found ways to engage with the world around you and give back.

Some of you initiated Know Your Rights Day in 2021, and volunteered to help over a thousand students at Detroit's Cast Technical High School, engage in conversations about race, policing, and constitutional rights in police encounters.

Others stood alongside their clients in the clinics as they secured life-changing victories.

One of you is recognized by MSU as an outstanding volunteer in our community.

And those are only a few examples.

As a collective hole, the class of 2022 showed by example, that good lawyers serve others.

Beyond service, you exhibited leadership by reviving traditions, which promote community and togetherness.

You founded new student organizations for first generation law students, student veterans, and students who were active in democratic politics.

And so just like service, the class of 2022 showed by example that good lawyers not only lead, but lead for the benefit of others.

So for those of you, I referenced at the start who may be nervous, uncertain, or unclear about the future, take heart in the fact that by graduating from this great institution you depart equipped with among other many other things, service and leadership skills, two of the most pivotal character traits of any good lawyer, but like all of us, you must continue to grow.

No tree, of course, is complete with a trunk alone.

The branches of a tree symbolized, physical, intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth and nourishment.

They also represent reaching and growing.

But the branches are not the topics you studied in law school or the different types of law that you may practice.

They represent you as a whole person, and the mark you make on the world professionally and personally, and what the branches embody and symbolize depend on each and every one of you.

Today, you are officially joining the legal profession, and have an incredible opportunity before you, an opportunity to grow branches beyond those acquired here.

And that represent what I believe is paramount to this noble profession, honesty and integrity, civility, leadership, community, passion and purpose, courage in defending the Liberty and rights of all people.

The past three years at MSU Law have prepared you for all of this.

And now is the time to embrace these core principles, and grow your branches.

The honesty and integrity branch.

When you are licensed, you will take an oath to uphold ethical expectations of yourself, and for your clients.

This along with the professional rules will be your guide.

Represent your clients with passion, fight for them, empathize with their plight, but there are not degrees or levels of integrity.

This is an all or nothing deal.

Be honest, trustworthy, and respectful at all times, professionally as well as in your personal life.

This is not to say that you will not be challenged, but when you are, choose the harder path that demonstrates your integrity and upholds your ethical and moral compass, rather than the easier path.

It will define who you are as a person, and as a lawyer.

You have committed too much time, effort and energy and sacrifice time away from family and friends to not demand the very best of yourself.

The civility branch, the legal profession by its very nature is oftentimes adversarial.

So I ask you to show kindness and civility in all that you do, lead by example.

Recognize when your actions are not in line with that goal and do better.

Look for those opportunities to promote civility and kindness, regardless of the behaviors others exhibit, and mentor others to do the same.

That is why we are all here.

To serve others and treat everyone with respect, dignity, and civility that they deserve.

This is true in all circumstances, even if you must show civility in the face of incivility, which I promise will occur more than once throughout your career.

The leadership branch, lawyers, leaders, Spartans.

I cannot think of a better motto for MSU Law, and I can attest that law school is what prepared me to be a leader, just like it has you.

As I mentioned earlier, you leave this great institution as leaders, but true leaders always continue to grow.

Leadership is going to look different for each of you.

But I believe the key to leadership is to listen.

Lawyers are known for liking to talk, to express their opinions, to be right, to argue.

But listening is what allows you to understand the perspectives and opinions of others.

Truly hear what they are saying, and also what they are not, and leads you to making decisions that are informed and collaborative.

Being a listener is the one thing that can be the difference in being an effective leader versus just being someone in charge.

It is the one attribute that will lead others to follow and respect your leadership.

The community branch.

When I think of community, I recall some simple, yet powerful words of wisdom from the late US Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

"If you want to be a true professional, "do something outside yourself."

Connect with your community and give back in whatever way you can.

Think of how you can promote diversity, equity and inclusion in our culture, identify who is in need and offer your assistance willingly.

Do not place limits on where or when you are willing to serve, rather be available always.

Sometimes, these opportunities will arise when you are at your busiest and when it is most inconvenient.

Those are the opportunities you should embrace above all others.

Your education has equipped you with a special skill, and to whom much is given much is required.

Embrace that thought every day of your lives.

The passion and purpose branch.

Today may mark the end of your formal law school education, but it is just the beginning of a life of learning.

I continue to learn every single day, and I find it one of the most rewarding parts of being a lawyer.

You will never know it all, and that is exciting.

When I first went to law school, I had a plan to go back to the public sector and practice government law.

But I made the decision to take a family law class because the Michigan bar exam was going to start including that area on the essay portion for the first time.

That class and my professor ignited an interest in me that I never expected.

My advisor urged me to do an internship at Legal Aid, and I found a passion for helping people, some in the most vulnerable and emotional times of their lives.

I went on to practice family law at the beginning of my legal career.

And even when I left private practice and went to the public sector, it is a passion that has been at the core of my career ever since.

I am grateful that I'm able to bring the passion I have for families and youth involved in our child welfare and juvenile justice systems to the role I have now.

I want you all to find your passion and purpose and be open minded to what may ignite that spark in you.

And it's okay if you don't know yet, sometimes it takes putting yourself out there, and seeing where the need is.

The courage branch, courage to stand up for what you believe in, to speak when others stay silent.

To push yourself out of your comfort zone, courage to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences.

Have the courage to admit, I don't know the answer, and then do the work to find it.

Have the courage to recognize your strengths, and utilize them to help others, but also to recognize your weaknesses, and commit to doing whatever it takes to turn those into strengths.

Have the courage to remember that as lawyers, we are called to defend the liberties and rights of all people.

We are all responsible for upholding justice and standing against injustice.

To help foster this, seek out mentors, professors, professionals, leaders, family members you admire.

Don't be afraid to ask for help.

You're a joining a profession where many of those that came before you can and want to assist you on your journey.

Call them, email them, write them a letter.

Having a mentor and later being a mentor for someone else, which is just as important, can lead you to finding your purpose and passion.

Bounce ideas off that person, engage in debate, ask questions, be of service.

The more you put in the more you will get out.

I was fortunate to have several people along my career who invested in me and my path forward.

And I became the lawyer I am today because of their investment in me.

That may sound like a lot of branches, but all the branches work together for the strength of the tree.

The more branches you have and the stronger they are, the more leaves.

More leaves mean more food and nourishment.

That food and nourishment means stronger roots and trunk and the taller and broader the entire tree grows.

Remember there are so many different types of trees in this world, but they all share the parts that make the hole that I've talked about today.

And it doesn't matter if you're a fast growing tree, or take decades to grow into a solid, strong Oak tree.

Trees are strong, resilient, bending, but not breaking.

Patient.

They persevere despite challenges and setbacks, and trees change over time.

Thank you to all the families who have supported these students, to Dean green and the faculty and staff for your vision for the future and your unwavering support of each of these graduates.

The alumni and supporters whose well wishes and financial support make MSU Law what it is, and to Michigan State University for making this law school such a wonderful place.

And most importantly to the graduates.

You have spent the last several years developing a specialized skill that you can and should use to make the world a better place.

And if you use that skill to its potential and remain true to yourself, you will discover the true rewards of life, satisfaction, self pride, happiness and joy.

You have worked hard and you deserve this moment.

As you launch into a great life ahead, celebrate yourselves and enjoy the results of your work.

Congratulations to the 2022 MSU Law graduating class, and go green.

(audience applauding) - Justice, thank you so much for your speech today.

I met you by phone during my transition in the spring of 2021, and I vowed then to get to know you.

Shortly thereafter, I saw you at a social event last summer, and asked whether you might speak to our graduating class.

Since then, I've heard you speak, and I've learned more about your amazing commitment to public service and to the betterment of our community.

Thank you so much for joining us.

And we look forward to working more closely with you and the court going forward.

(audience applauding) Thank you.

Class of 2022, you have selected impressive class officers.

Your JD class president Neila Kasik will introduce one of the class speakers and present the class gift.

Your class officer, Colton Kupchick, will present the Faculty Award, and your class officer, Haley Glogick, will present the Staff Award and introduce our closing class speaker.

- Good morning, class of 2022 faculty staff, family, and friends.

My name is Colton Kupchick and I'm one of the graduating class officers.

It is my pleasure to introduce this year's faculty award winner Professor Phillip Pachillo.

(audience cheering) Professor Pachillo's a graduate of Lafayette College and Tulane Law School.

Professor Pachillo began his legal career with judicial clerkships at the trial and appellate levels, including with Judge William B Traxler Jr. of the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.

He then practiced as a litigation associate with Scaden Arpes in Washington, DC.

Immediately before arriving at Michigan State, he held a visiting teaching appointment at both the University of North Carolina School of Law, and the Tulane University Law School.

Professor Pachillo's primary area of scholarly interest is in civil litigation in the federal courts.

His writings have been published in numerous law reviews and journals.

Most recently, his article on federal diversity jurisdiction was published in the Duke Law Journal.

His scholarship has been favorably cited in the Wright and Miller Treatise on federal practice and procedure.

And in several merit briefs filed by parties to cases pending before the United States Supreme Court.

I'm fortunate to be able to speak personally about Professor Pachillo's teaching abilities, his desire to see students succeed, his ability to connect with them, and of course his humor are just a few qualities that stand out.

Pachillo has the unique advantage, unique challenge, excuse me, of teaching students throughout their entire course of their law school journey from one L civil procedure, to evidence and onto professional responsibility.

Trust me, without his lessons on the rules of professional responsibility and tips for being an ethical lawyer, who knows where some of us would be.

But truly we are grateful for all Professor Pachillo has done to position us for success, as we enter our legal careers.

It is my honor to present him with this award on behalf of the class of 2022.

Please join me in welcoming Professor Philip Pachillo.

(audience applauding) - Thank you so much Cole.

And thank all of you, this is very nice guys.

Have you seen this?

I mean, you think about the caliber of this faculty, and you think about the number of incredible teachers, incredible scholars, wonderful people.

And I have to stop and think, why me, why not one of them, why me instead?

And I thought about it some more, and you know, the classes that Colton just mentioned, and my enrollments are huge.

You know, my colleagues are teaching seminars.

What chance do they have?

It's really, it's a matter of numbers, you know?

Almost be embarrassing if I didn't win.

So, you saved me from that.

So I appreciate that, thank you.

But I was given a minute to say some words, and I think that minute expired a minute ago.

But what I wanna do is address the family members of the graduates.

And on behalf of the faculty, make a heartfelt plea and ask if you could forgive us for what we put your children through for these last three years, it was tough.

It's normally tough for them, it was especially tough.

And I'm not gonna go into the details, except to say it required an enormous amount of grit, an enormous amount of grace.

And they made it all the way here today.

And it was remarkable what they've done.

So they deserve, yeah- (audience applauding) You may have gotten some calls, late at night when they've been really anxious about what's coming up.

The challenge on the horizon.

They may have talked about dropping out.

They may have talked about quitting, and you know, they weren't just looking for attention.

They really meant it.

They were thinking about dropping out, and you know, we know what that's like, we've been through this.

So going forward, my prayer for you guys is may you all be blessed with that same grace and grit.

As the challenges come, may you, inevitably, there will be dark moments.

I hope that you think about all your successes, the tremendous successes that led you here.

I hope you remember what you've accomplished, and when it gets really dark and you feel like you can't do it alone, call me, all right?

Leave your parents alone, they've suffered enough.

You know, call me, that'll be my way of saying thank you for this is to spend as much time as you want.

And you'll remember how great you are.

I'll remind you, all right?

So congratulations on behalf of the faculty We're rooting for you.

The moment you got here will always be rooting for you.

Congratulations, and God bless.

(audience applauding) - Hi everyone.

My name is Hailey Gouhanage, and today I have the honor of announcing this year's recipient for the Staff Award.

This recipient was selected for her dedication to handling the communicative duties for professors, and ensuring that all students received the necessary information for courses.

Although she couldn't be here with us today, it is my pleasure to announce that the winner is Marie Gordon.

(audience applauding) - Good morning, class of 2022.

Staff, faculty, and loved ones.

My name is Neonila Kossak, and I am this year's graduating class president.

I have the honor of introducing our 2022 jus doctor class speaker.

Rabab Kumar.

Rabab grew up in Canton, Michigan, where she graduated from Plymouth High School, before attending the University of Michigan Dearborn.

At University of Michigan Dearborn, Rabab majored in political science, minored in communications, and was able to graduate with her bachelors in just three years.

Upon our acceptance to Michigan State College of Law, Rabab was selected to be a part of the Michigan Leadership Initiative, which is a small cohort of students who are given unique opportunities to expand upon their leadership skills.

While here at MSU College of Law, Rabab served as Wellness Committee Chairwoman of the Student Bar Association, participated in Alvin Alstore's low income taxpayer clinic, took part in the Appellate Lawyer's Association, 2020 Moot Court competition, all while working at a busy criminal and family law firm.

I met Rabab when she first sat next to me in class on the very first day of school.

Many of my classmates can relate to how lucky it is to have Rabab sit next to them in a class.

In addition to all of her many successes and accomplishments, Rabab's character is her greatest one.

Rabab is incredibly kind, poised, intelligent, and is an absolute joy to be around.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming Rabab.

(audience applauding) - Good morning, deans faculty and staff, parents, family, friends, and most importantly, my fellow classmates.

It truly feels surreal to be here at this long-awaited commencement ceremony in this moment with you all.

A moment, that's accumulation of a dream that all of us had many years ago, whether that was five, 10, or even 20 years prior, at some point in our lives, we all decided to pursue a path of service, advocacy, and justice.

For the class of 2022, that path began in the fall of 2019 when we arrived at the doors of the law school building as 1L's.

Feeling a little nervous, a little excited, and hopeful to be beginning a new chapter of our lives.

And three years later, that path has let us here to the Breslin Center feeling the same feelings, but this time underlined with a sense of great accomplishment, Because we transition from students to lawyers and soon to be practicing attorneys in the legal profession.

And that accomplishment latest and gentlemen deserves a round of applause.

(audience applauding) It deserves a round of applause because the path to getting here is anything but easy.

And I'd like to take a brief moment to take you all down memory lane.

As 1Ls, when we began the practical work to pursuing our dream, we knew we had a challenging year ahead of us.

And we were prepared to rise up to each and every challenge and that included 8:30 AM cold calls, final exams that were worth the majority of our grade, and finding a spot in the Shaw parking lot, hoping to make it Barnheiser's class on time.

It was difficult, but we rose up to each challenge, not because of the ABA attendance policies, but because we were on the path to pursuing our dream.

And second semester of 1L year, we met a challenge like no other, the arrival of COVID 19.

A challenge that changed our classrooms into computer screens and closed access to library study rooms, the places of sanctuary when we were in the trenches of final exam studying.

And though we may have been unsteady at first, we adapted to the changing circumstances, a line I hope you've all written in your resumes, and rose up to that challenge as well.

We figured out ways to communicate and function in an entirely virtual world.

And it is with this resilience that we were able to embrace an entirely virtual 2L year, which came with virtual competitions, clinics and exams.

And as is evidenced by your presence here today, we rose up to that challenge as a class.

3L year, we were given the privilege of returning once again to the law school building.

And we entered those doors, feeling a little nervous, hopeful, and excited to be finally back to in person learning, excited to regularly interact with our peers and mentors, hopeful that we would complete the entire year in person and a little nervous.

Why?

Well, because every morning we'd walk past our abandoned lockers, wonder what exactly what was left in them in spring of 2020, and hope that everything was okay, because try as we might, we can't remember the pass codes.

Like the years prior, this part of our path was also decorated with challenges.

Those included finding a job, completing bar applications and getting comfortable with the fact that after 20 years of schooling, we were finally gonna be done pursuing our education and moving on in our dream.

As I look out into the crowd today, I see a sea of determined, resilient, and passionate people.

Fellow classmates, who rose up to every challenge that came their way and succeeded in completing the path to pursuing their dream.

Today, we leave the doors of MSU Law for the last time and replace the title of law students with lawyers.

I hope in this moment, we remember our determination, passion, and resilience that we remember with each forthcoming challenge, we've risen up to so many more.

Before I conclude, I'd like to take a brief moment to remember those who walked alongside us, and supported us on our path to pursuing our dream.

The families who nurtured us with love, the mentors who guided us and the friends that reminded us of our capabilities, or maybe even discreetly slid over a case brief during an excruciating difficult cold call.

It would be impossible to achieve success without them.

So today, as we accept greetings of congratulations, let us extend one of our own, a sincere thank you to everyone who has supported us on our path and helped us continue to dream big.

Class of 2022, we made it.

We have risen to all the challenges, and completed the path to pursuing our dream, but it doesn't adhere.

in this moment, let us formulate new dreams that will shape our path, as we move on in our careers, and enter into the world as newly minted, Spartan lawyers.

Congratulations to you all.

(audience applauding) - I now have the honor of presenting the 2022 class gift.

One of the many duties class officers are tasked with is deciding what the graduating class gift should be.

When Colton, Haley, and I were brainstorming ideas for this year's class gift, we realize that students are greatly limited in their options for meals and snacks while they are in the law school building.

And often, there is not enough time in between classes to order food from places on the outside.

We decided we wanted to focus on ways to make food more accessible to MSU Law students.

This project will provide for a refrigerator Sparty Lounge area, where students will now be able to store their snacks and meals for the day.

Additionally, the fund will go towards periodically restocking the refrigerator with complimentary snacks for students.

I am happy to announce that we have raised $3,600.

We- (audience applauding) Thank you.

We believe having this project in place will greatly expand the options to students in choosing what to pack for a long day, encourage more community building within the law school, and will lessen the anxiety surrounding where to get food from in between classes.

We would not have been able to achieve this goal on our own.

So thank you so much to the class of 2022, and to the faculty and staff, as well as family and friends for donating and supporting this cause.

And class of 2022.

Congratulations, we made it.

(audience applauding) Dean Green, on behalf of the graduating class of 2022, I present to you our class gift.

- Great, thank you.

(scattered applause) This is a fantastic gift, and of course, as a result of your thoughtfulness and your generosity, we are inspired to do more to ensure that your physical and nutritional wellbeing needs are met.

So thank you for setting this example for us.

(scattered applause) At this time, it is my pleasure to present to you the Master of Laws and Master of Jurisprudence candidates for the graduating class of 2022.

Professor Grasso and Professor Stachesky will announce the names of the graduates, members of our faculty will bestow the graduation hoods on our graduates.

And please feel free to applaud briefly, for each candidate as the name is called.

Are we ready?

Amy Pinkerton.

(audience applauding) Giovanna Longo.

(audience applauding) Stephanie Tapia.

(scattered applause) Megan Devries.

(audience applauding) Denise Beiita Durham Purdue.

(scattered applause) Isha Chadha.

(scattered applause) (soft music) The graduating class of 2022.

Please feel free to applaud briefly for each candidate as the name is called.

- [Speaker] Colton James Kupchick.

(audience applauding) Haley Christine Gluhanage.

(scattered applauding) Neonila Kossak.

(scattered cheers) Rabab Kumar.

(scattered cheers) Erin Shrum.

(audience cheering) Daniel Joseph Duquet.

(scattered applause) Steven Andrews.

(scattered applause) Bamdad Attarran.

(scattered applause) Alexander Benjamin Numbers.

(scattered applause) Sara Imam.

(scattered cheering) - [Speaker #2] Robert Matthews.

(scattered applause) Brendan Scott Rule.

(scattered cheering) Nicholas Osman.

(scattered applause) Alexis Taylor Weber.

(audience cheering) Olivia Paige Sorg.

(audience applauding) Amelia Black.

(audience cheering) Marissa Claxton.

(audience clapping) Tyler Mark Bailey.

(audience cheering) Amanda McGeary.

(audience cheering) - [Speaker] Victoria Rose Tompkins.

(scattered applause) Haley Neale Wadel.

(scattered applause) Hannah Rose Brefeld.

(scattered applause) Amanda Caterine Delekta.

(audience cheering) Liesl Alyse Eschbach (audience cheering) Grace Noel Kennemer.

(audience cheering) Milli Shaw.

(audience cheering) Vincent Bonino.

(scattered applause) Erykah Monet Ross.

(audience cheering) Melanie Dana Lumpkin.

(audience cheering) Kamri Acenath Hogans.

(audience cheering).

- [Speaker #2] Alexandra Jackson.

(audience cheering) Arlin Reed.

(audience cheering) Alexander Scott Lindamood.

(audience cheering) Ian Lewis.

(audience cheering) Patrick Michael Dowd.

(scattered applause) Charles Britain III.

(audience cheering) Lewstifer Shanta.

(scattered applause) Ben Pryde.

(audience cheering) Parker Wells Nielsen.

(audience cheering) - [Speaker] David Rosado.

Logan Grizzell.

Mason Lee Van Gorp Breanna Joan Colwell.

Kelsey Simasko.

Schanawar Lone.

Ariel BreAnn Kellersohn.

Jordan Nicole Law.

- [Speaker #2] Lauren Legner.

Caitlin Grace Crekle, Maggie Belcher.

Adriana Irene Berkhart.

(crowd cheering) Juliana Ahlam Suma Habhab.

Anastasia Dominguez.

(audience cheering) Malia Surry Jackson.

(audience cheering) Abigail Cote.

(audience cheering) Kimberly Talent.

- [Speaker] Evan Rufrano.

Jack Rucker.

(audience cheering) Henna Anne Sema Mumduya Yaya Hasson Camel.

(audience cheering) Alyana Leighann Jimerson.

Jonathan Benz.

Hannah Marie Robinson.

Nathan Joseph Hubble.

Grantlee Weber Hohlbein.

- [Speaker#2] Michael Jordan.

Katrina Huotari.

(crowd shouting) Casey Hannah Corn.

Austin Michael Delano.

Shane Matthew Preston.

Michael Lewis.

Mitchell Huckett.

(audience cheering) Christopher Ryan Semrinick.

- [Speaker] Chad McDonald.

Jennifer Holubowicz.

Valerie Chuti.

Catherine Long.

Chelsea Skrepenak.

Garrett Wade Dolly.

Christian Rhodes.

Alexander Kirker.

Kylie Margaret Powery.

- [Speaker #2] Jacob Lewis Money.

Juliana Sousou.

Carson Jones.

Stephanie Sackett.

Mary Teresa Moton.

Corey Hildebrand.

Aaron Vogel.

Joshua Hollack.

- [Speaker] Joshua Redlinger.

Fanfei Gao.

Mitchell Purdy.

Lauren Humphrey.

Catherine Ann Wheeler.

Samantha Marie Porter.

Emily Franks.

Samantha Catherine Iachello Kelsey Bees.

- [Speaker #2] Elizabeth Meadows.

Lindsay Eve Gergel.

Emily Ann Binienda.

Medha Gupta.

Alexandra Tolzman.

Next row.

Blake Adams.

(scattered cheering) Allison Poston.

- [Speaker] Kelsey Ann Harrington.

(scattered cheering) Kayla Pearl Colby.

Kristin Lee Mills.

Amelia Pezzetti.

Hassan Hachem.

Delany Dyze.

Christopher Freebie.

- [Speaker #2] Matthew Kramer.

Lily Joanne Patterson.

(scattered cheering) Thomas Biggins.

Megan Krause.

(audience cheering) McKenzie Paige Sipes.

Hannah McGowan.

Hannah Klippert.

Chloe Reed Conway.

- [Speaker] Victoria Hansen.

Isha Beyake Hezirulu.

McKenna Rivers.

Owen Jones.

(audience shouting) Joe Cluvetone.

Dustin Reed Salt.

Brian Ring.

Tess Strasser.

- [Speaker #2] Edin Bukva.

Peter Shinkey.

Kaitlyn Ashley Kline.

Michaela Vera-Marie Campbell Rivera.

(audience cheering) Aaron Fong.

Garrett Anderson.

(scattered cheering) Fatima Abdallah.

- [Speaker] Parker Redding.

Matthew Desafety.

Tyler Eugene Armstrong.

Rohaib Latif.

Ahml Shukr.

Echo Aloe.

Nancy Samir Haddad-Derieth.

Andrea Pearson McKenzie.

- [Speaker #2] Akunya Leghorn (indistinct).

(scattered cheering) Sarah Hatolsky.

Abigail Wilson.

Hannah Ruth Soden.

Emily Anne King.

(audience cheering) Roshell Imam Ibrahim.

(scattered cheering) Joshua Louis Gonzalez.

- [Speaker] Joshua Makkonen.

Davis Crocker.

Miles Firestein.

Austin Trummel.

Justin Dance.

Alan Jurack.

Colin Wilkin.

David Syzmanski.

(audience shouting) - [Speaker #2] Knox Yellen.

Nicholas Gregory Strogen.

Andrea Cremonesi.

Elijah Hoppes.

Natalie Emma Hess.

(scattered cheering) Linden Howard.

(scattered cheering) McHale Perkins.

(scattered cheering) Matthew Seafield.

- [Speaker] Christine Wang.

Henry Simon.

Grace Charlotte Ketzner.

Haley Regan.

Lucas Ray Adams.

Peyton George Anderson.

Stacey Posadas.

Armando Barcena.

Jordan Cade.

Louis Manuel Alejandre.

Heather Anne Hazel.

- [Speaker #2] Samantha Renee Reitz.

Hannah Morgan.

(scattered applause) Sophie Isabelle Whole.

Connor Ripma.

Megan Ramsey Shaya.

Hailey Tenelshof.

Michael Sexton.

Jeremy Bear.

- [Speaker] Jocelyn Monique Sanders Walker.

(audience cheering) Andrew Luxe.

Andrew John Hereza.

Brandon Paul Cross.

Robert Shockley.

Andrew Pitman.

Talia Ruman.

Arnolfo (indistinct).

- [Speaker #2] Tyler Kitz Miller.

Desiree C Williams.

(audience cheering) Camille Lofton.

(audience cheering) Julia Reed Karajeh.

(audience cheering) Cassandra Bono.

Grace Vandergrif.

(shouting in crowd) Melissa Yokopovich.

Jessica Clody.

- [Speaker] Jeffrey Clay.

(audience cheering) Shannon Noel Masgington.

Connor Cerrito.

(audience cheering) Ashmael Ali.

(cheering) Madison Kimberly Castle.

(crowd cheering) Cameron Alexis Elkin.

(audience cheering) Mariah Ausbury.

(audience cheering) Tierney Hammer.

- [Speaker #2] Jamie VandenOever.

Jessica Holland.

(audience cheering) Jordan Chrispell.

(audience cheering) Carly Fran Cruikshank.

(audience cheering) (soft inspirational music) - I now ask all of the Masters of Laws, and Masters of Jurisprudence candidates to rise for the conferment of their degrees.

I now ask all of the Masters of Laws, and Masters of Jurisprudence candidates to rise for the conferment of their degrees.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees of Michigan State University, and by the statutes of the state of Michigan, I confer upon each of you, the degree of Masters of Laws and Masters of Jurisprudence and declare that you are ready to aid in the shaping and application of those wise restraints, which make us free.

Thank you, you may be seated and congratulations.

(audience applauding) I now ask all of the Juris doctor candidates to rise for the conferment of their degrees.

By virtue of the authority vested in me by the Board of Trustees of the Michigan State University College of Law, and by the statutes of the state of Michigan, I confer upon each of you the degree of Juris doctor and declare that you are ready to aid in the shaping and application of those wise restraints that make us free.

Thank you.

You may be seated and congratulations.

(audience applauding) - Hello again, I stand this time with the honor of introducing today's closing speaker, Erin Shrum.

(audience cheering) Erin grew up in Clawson, Michigan, and attended Oakland University where she studied political science and women in gender studies.

And she was the best worker at Chipotle.

While here at MSU Law.

Erin organized the school's first gender and sexuality moot court competition, participated in the law and religion moot court competition, and got the Board of Advocates a whole bunch of new followers on Instagram.

So give them a follow @MSU-_boardofadvocates.

Aaron was also a volunteer for the Center of Survivors, a research assistant for the Toski Center, an intern for the US Department of Labor, and a Crunchies trivia champion, along with some other pretty cool girls.

Going over the rest of her accomplishments would take up the rest of my time.

And I think instead it's important to quickly note how genuine of a person Erin is.

I can only speak for my own experiences, but Erin has made me a better plant mom.

She stood with me when I went through some of the most difficult times of my life, and she constantly reminded me through words and actions that in the long run, it's all about being honest, being yourself and being a good person.

Erin's gonna do great things as an incoming staff attorney for the legal services of South Central Michigan.

And so now please welcome, not only my classmate, but my friend, Erin Shrum.

(audience applauding) - Thanks Hailey, I'll see you at countries later.

Okay?

Hey y'all, as closing speaker, I felt it was only right to give the Quimby version of our time here at MSU Law.

So let's take it back to a little something that Reddit likes to call 0L.

That timeframe where you decide you want to go to law school, so you watch Legally Blonde a couple of times to prepare.

I remember being accepted to MSU, and all the excitement that came with it.

The handwritten thank you on the admissions letter, admitted students day with the free bagels, and all the deans, professors and staff that made us feel so welcome.

But with 0L came a huge warning, there is no way to prepare for law school.

Be aware of the students who rip pages out of the books, and enjoy your last free summer.

Orientation week rolls around, and all of us are together for the first time.

All of these different personalities and backgrounds, some of us with children and families, some of us preparing for weddings or childbirth, some moving across or into the country for this opportunity.

And some of us not even taking a single gap year, and literally being in school from K to 3L.

Section one took that big dub as legal knowledge champs.

(scattered cheering) And one third of us were off to a great start.

But despite all the friendly faces, and the warm professors, I couldn't help but feel overwhelmed, and nervous, and intimidated.

Blacking out during cold calls, immediately repressing the SIV Pro final moments after Exemplify shows that green screen.

I remember calling my mom after RWA to explain how I flashed a peace sign to my entire class after my first oral argument with them, oh my God.

We were all just trying to discover our place in this new environment, and fit in and feel comfortable and prove that Rita Bennett is not a limited purpose public figure.

(audience cheering) And then COVID hit, and we didn't know how to feel or what to think.

I mean, personally, I was pretty excited I didn't have to put on mascara every morning, but COVID flipped everything upside down, right when we thought life couldn't get any more challenging.

We lost loved ones, we got COVID.

We struggled for financial security, and we saw so many lives around us indescribably affected, all while trying to learn what the hell is the non-delegation doctrine.

But if one thing is for sure, SBA was there for us.

The scholarships and the Insta posts.

We see you SBA, then it's 1L summer.

And we're all frantic scrambling for job opportunities, while also applying to extracurriculars, like TPI and Board of Advocates, journals, and Law Review, which was probably a great experience.

But I wouldn't know, some of us didn't pass the Blue Book Exam.

(crowd laughing) Then we're back for 2L, while those of us who secured leases before the school announced that we're going to be fully online again.

And to everyone that says 2L is easier, bruh.

But Megan Thee Stallion released her album, "Something for the Hotties," so at least we had that.

Next thing you know, it's our last year of law school and we're finally back in person, and everyone can see all my new outfits for the first time.

And despite being a part for so much of our law school career, it felt like we never really left.

The warmness of the professors and visiting them in office hours for the first time, the friendly hellos in the hallways and elevator and library, the free food, all that I was nervous from for 1L, the competition and feeling intimidated and like I wasn't good enough.

It all felt so silly.

This experience has been challenging on top of challenging and everyone's challenges were different.

Like some of us were thinking, am I gonna pass admin?

Will I get caught up on the seven missed asynchronous classes before the final?

Is love really blind?

We're the law school class that fully experienced COVID 19.

We had obstacles beyond law school thrown at us, but we all made it here today.

We overcame the adversity.

We navigated an entirely new world, and we faced challenges head on with empathy and with understanding.

And despite being a part for the majority of our time at MSU Law, one thing brings us together, our Zoom capabilities.

So for one last time, MSU Law class of 2022, let's hear it, go green.

(crowd cheering) (audience applauding) - Friends and family.

Thank you for joining us this afternoon.

As we celebrate the achievements of our graduates.

Graduates, you may have already begun to celebrate, but it is official now.

But it's not just your opportunity to celebrate, you and all those who supported and empowered you also deserve to celebrate.

A universal proverb says that if you want to go fast, go alone.

But if you want to go far, go together, you have lived it.

Although it has been just less than a year, you have my very sincere gratitude for the privilege of being your Dean.

The future of our profession is in excellent hands.

Your entire law school, faculty, staff, trustees, cannot wait to hear about your accomplishments in the years to come.

On behalf of the entire law school community, except our graduate, congratulations, and our good wishes.

And all, please join me in one last round of applause for our graduates.

(audience applauding) Great.

(applauding continues) The platform party will now recess, followed by the graduates.

For those of you on stage, we will recess in exactly the opposite order in which we proceeded.

We asked the audience to please remain seated, until after the platform party, and all the graduates have left the arena.

Please meet your graduates at the Hall of History, where there is space to mingle and to take pictures.

(uptempo funk music) ♪ Celebrate good times, come on ♪ ♪ Celebrate good times, come on, let's celebrate ♪ ♪ There's a party going on right here ♪ ♪ A celebration to last throughout the years ♪ ♪ So bring your good times and your laughter, too ♪ ♪ We gonna celebrate your party with you ♪ ♪ Come on now, celebration ♪ ♪ Let's.

celebrate and have a good time ♪ ♪ Celebration, we gonna celebrate and have a good time ♪ ♪ It's time to come together ♪ ♪ It's up to you, what's your pleasure ♪ ♪ Everyone around the world, come on ♪ ♪ It's a celebration ♪ ♪ Celebrate good times, come on ♪ ♪ It's a celebration ♪ ♪ Celebrate good times, come on ♪ ♪ There's a party going on right here ♪ ♪ A dedication to last throughout the years ♪ ♪ So bring your good times, and your laughter too ♪ ♪ We gonna celebrate and party with you, come on now ♪ ♪ Celebration, let's all celebrate and have a good time ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, celebration ♪ ♪ We gonna celebrate and have a good time ♪ ♪ It's time to come together ♪ ♪ It's up to you, what's your pleasure ♪ ♪ Everyone around the world, come on ♪ ♪ It's a celebration ♪ ♪ It's a celebration ♪ ♪ Celebrate good times, come on ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate, come on now ♪ ♪ Celebrate good times, come on, let's celebrate ♪ ♪ We're gonna have a good time tonight ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate, it's all right ♪ ♪ We're gonna have a good time tonight ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate, it's all right ♪ ♪ We're gonna have good time tonight ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate, it's all right ♪ ♪ We're gonna have a good time tonight ♪ ♪ Let's celebrate, it's all right ♪ (uptempo music continues)