UB Law Students of Color to Honor Alumni and Graduates

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Law School will honor its diversity in this year's Law School Student of Color Dinner April 15 at the Buffalo Niagara Marriott, 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst.

The annual dinner brings together graduating students, continuing students, alumni faculty and a host of friends to celebrate the achievements of people of color who have been or are associated with the UB Law School. The event is co-sponsored by the Asian American Law Students Association, the Black Law Students Association and the Latin American Law Students Association.

Keynote speaker will be UB Associate Professor of Law Rick Su, who teaches immigration and local government law. Su won a teaching award from the Class of 2009 at last year's Law School commencement. The dinner recognizes and honors the achievements of distinguished alumni, minority trailblazers, professors and students set to graduate in May.

Distinguished Alumni Awards will be presented to Trini E. Ross '92, assistant U.S. attorney and member of the Dean's Advisory Council; Mark G. Pearce '78, formerly of the Buffalo law firm Creighton, Pearce, Johnsen & Giroux, who was recently named by President Obama to the National Labor Relations Board; and Changse Leon Kim '75, a private practitioner from Seoul, Korea, who will accept his award by video.

The Trailblazer Award will be given to Sheldon K. Smith '01, president of the Minority Bar Association. The Jacob D. Hyman Professor of the Year Award will go to SUNY Distinguished Service Professor Charles Patrick Ewing, a vice dean and director of the Legal Skills program at the Law School. A "Lift as We Climb" scholarship will be awarded to a high school student.

The Monique E. Emdin Award, given in honor of the 2007 UB Law graduate who died of cancer when she was 28, will be presented to a third-year law student. The award is a collaboration between Hiscock & Barclay LLP and Bethesda World Harvest International Church.

Hon. Rose H. Sconiers '73, who was recently appointed to the Fourth Department, Appellate Division of New York State Supreme Court, will read a poem.

The event's traditional candle-lighting ceremony will close the evening. Graduating third-year students "pass the torch" to those who will follow them as leaders in UB Law's students of color community.

Co-chairs of the dinner are Mollie K. McCabe '11 and Allison T. Chan '11.

Since its founding in 1887, the University at Buffalo Law School -- the State University of New York system's only law school -- has established an excellent reputation and is widely regarded as a leader in legal education. Its cutting-edge curriculum provides both a strong theoretical foundation and the practical tools graduates need to succeed in a competitive marketplace, wherever they choose to practice. A special emphasis on interdisciplinary studies, public service and opportunities for hands-on clinical education makes UB Law unique among the nation's premier public law schools.