WMU-Cooley's Grand Rapids campus holds virtual honors convocation

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GRAND RAPIDS— On July 16, WMU-Cooley Law School’s Grand Rapids campus honored students during this term’s honors convocation.

Two alumni, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Smith and Joanna Smith spoke about their experiences at WMU-Cooley, including what it was like to be part of the first incoming class at the Grand Rapids campus.

Joanna Smith is senior court counsel to the Twelfth Judicial Circuit Court, servicing Manatee, Sarasota, and Desoto counties in Florida. Thomas Smith serves as a military judge for the Air Force Trial Judiciary, Central Circuit, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, serving as a trial judge at general and special courts-martial worldwide.      

“We were so blessed to have been part of the first class at the Grand Rapids campus.  We fondly remember stocking books on shelves in the law library, starting the SBA, and having the best professors and administrative team Cooley could offer,” said Joanna Smith.

Thomas Smith spoke about proudly displaying his large Cooley diploma. “Cooley provides an excellent legal education.  I’ve never looked back on my career and had a moment where I’ve thought law school didn’t prepare me for, whether it was the bar exam or something I encountered during my career. Be proud of your school, and be the reason that others can be proud of your school.”

The Leadership Achievement Award was presented to Sarvpal Dhillon, Paul Krygsman, and Viktoria Lissner.

Lissner, from Grand Rapids, earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Grand Valley State University. While at WMU-Cooley Law, she served as an interim solicitation editor for the Law Review, and events coordinator for the West Michigan Student Bar Association. She also held several roles for the Organization of Women Law Students, including vice president, events coordinator, and fundraising chair.

Dhillon, from Des Plaines, Ill., served as treasurer of the Mock Trial Board, and a general member of both the West Michigan Student Bar Association and the Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honors Society.

Krygsman, a Canadian native, served as parliamentarian for the West Michigan Student Bar Association as well as chair for rules committee. He also worked as a teaching assistant for Professor Devin Schindler’s Constitutional Law I and II classes.

Madison Mazer was presented with the Alumni Association Distinguished Student Award.


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